US Navy's latest 6th gen jet could have 25% higher range

Boeing teases US Navy’s 6th-gen stealth jet

Boeing has offered the first detailed look at its F/A-XX, a sixth-generation carrier-based stealth fighter intended to define the future of US naval aviation in the 2030s. Designed as the eventual replacement for the Navy’s aging fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornets, the new aircraft is billed as a carrier-ready, long-range, and highly adaptable platform capable of dominating contested skies while coordinating unmanned systems.

A Leap Beyond the F-35C

One of the F/A-XX’s most striking features is its extended range. Boeing claims the fighter could achieve a maximum operating distance of more than 1,700 miles—roughly 25% farther than the F-35C Lightning II. This longer reach is considered vital in the Pacific theater, where US carriers must contend with China’s arsenal of long-range anti-ship missiles.

With aerial refueling, Boeing estimates the aircraft could enable carrier strike groups to project power across an area of 11 million square miles—a footprint larger than the entire North American continent.

Built for Carrier Operations

Operating from an aircraft carrier presents unique challenges: launching from a moving deck, landing on a space shorter than a football field, and withstanding the harsh saltwater environment. Boeing’s design embraces these realities.

The aircraft’s tailless, delta-wing profile with a bubble canopy resembles Boeing’s Air Force project, the F-47. Yet the F/A-XX introduces a distinctive feature rarely seen on modern stealth jets: forward-mounted canards. These small wings boost agility during low-speed carrier landings, giving pilots greater control in demanding maritime conditions.

However, the inclusion of canards comes with a trade-off. They slightly increase the aircraft’s radar signature, compromising stealth to some degree. Boeing argues this balance—superior agility without fully abandoning low observability—better meets the Navy’s operational needs at sea.

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More Than a Fighter

The F/A-XX is envisioned not only as a dogfighter but also as a “quarterback” for unmanned systems. It will direct drones to extend surveillance, enhance strike power, and overwhelm enemy defenses. To accomplish this, the jet will rely on advanced artificial intelligence and next-generation networking to process and share vast amounts of sensor data in real time.

Its modular design will allow it to carry an evolving mix of payloads, including air-to-air missiles, hypersonic weapons, and potentially directed-energy systems like lasers. Electronic warfare suites and data-sharing capabilities will ensure the aircraft can adapt to threats not yet fully defined.

Competing Designs

Boeing is not alone in the race. Northrop Grumman, the only other contractor still in contention after Lockheed Martin’s proposal was rejected earlier this year, unveiled its own concept: a smooth, organic design without canards, emphasizing maximum stealth.

The Navy’s choice will ultimately come down to balancing stealth, range, agility, and cost, while ensuring the aircraft is fully carrier-compatible.

Unlike the Air Force’s F-47, which uses a cutting-edge adaptive-cycle engine for superior endurance, the F/A-XX will employ a derivative powerplant. Boeing argues this decision will cut costs and accelerate timelines, while still delivering the thrust needed to handle future hypersonic and laser weapon systems.

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Investing in the Future

Boeing has already poured $2 billion into infrastructure for sixth-generation production. At its Advanced Combat Aircraft Assembly Facility in St. Louis, Missouri, the company envisions building both the Air Force’s F-47 and the Navy’s F/A-XX simultaneously. Shared design elements and economies of scale, executives say, make dual production feasible.

“We believe the US defense industry can support both programs,” said Steve Parker, CEO of Boeing Defense, highlighting the company’s confidence in parallel development.

Toward the Next Generation

The F/A-XX is intended to complement the F-35C Lightning II in the near term while ultimately replacing the F/A-18 Super Hornet, which will reach the end of its 9,000-hour service life by the early 2030s. Congress has already earmarked nearly $2.4 billion to support the Navy’s next-generation fighter program.

Boeing describes its concept as a generational leap, emphasizing survivability, extended range, and adaptability to technologies not yet fully mature. Yet its decision to include canards signals a deliberate departure from the “all-stealth” philosophy pursued by other contractors.

As the Navy evaluates its options, the debate will focus on whether greater agility in the maritime environment outweighs the advantages of near-invisibility on radar. Whatever the outcome, the F/A-XX represents a bold vision for the future of carrier aviation in an era of rising global threats.