The US Navy wants more than $11 billion by FY2028 to develop the F/A-XX aircraft. Moreover, in the draft budget for FY2024, the service for the first time publicly requested funds for a fighter.

What is known

Two weeks ago we wrotethat the US Navy has requested $1.528 billion to develop a sixth-generation carrier-based aircraft. New documents have now surfaced that set out the spending plans for FY2024-2028 in more detail:

• FY2024 – $1.528 billion;
• FY2025 – $2.025 billion;
• FY2026 – $2.634 billion;
• FY2027 – $2.632 billion;
• FY2028 – $2.735 billion

Next, we arm ourselves with a calculator and see that the US Navy wants to receive $ 11.554 billion in the period from FY2024 to FY2028. During the same period, the service plans to spend $11.849 billion to purchase 90 F-35C Lighting II fifth-generation carrier-based fighters.

Historically, stealth fighters have been very expensive. For example, the F-22 Raptor fifth-generation aircraft development program, which lasted from 1991 to 2005, costs $45 billion adjusted for inflation ($32.4 billion excluding inflation).

Unfortunately, F/A-XX is almost completely classified. We only know that this is a sixth-generation carrier-based fighter that will replace all or part of the existing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.

Source: The Drive