US Navy Sets Range Requirement for Next Carrier Fighter at Double Super Hornet
The US Navy's F/A-XX program requires a combat radius roughly twice that of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, while staying under an 85,000-lb maximum takeoff weight, according to internal descriptions.
The US Navy has not yet picked a builder for the F/A-XX, its next-generation carrier fighter. As of September 3, 2026, the program is past the deadline officials had set for choosing a contractor. The Navy has called one requirement non-negotiable: a combat radius roughly double that of the current F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The design must also stay under a maximum takeoff weight of 85,000 pounds (38,555 kilograms). According to the article, this range and weight constraint has shaped the program internally, more than stealth or sensor fusion.
Sources
- simpleflying.comWhy The US Navy's Next Carrier Fighter Must Fly Twice As Far As The Super Hornet