Speaking at the Apex Defense conference in Washington, D.C., Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Daryl Caudle warned that the Navy must accelerate development of F/A-XX to ensure it can penetrate future air defense environments over the next decade. In the recent Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act, the F/A-XX program received an increase of $897 million, while calling out the Pentagon for wasting time. For instance, Houthi forces have reportedly shot down around 20 MQ-9 Reaper drones by using mobile air defense systems that combine infrared sensors with radar cueing, complicating detection and suppression efforts. What F/A-XX Is Expected to DeliverThe Navy envisions F/A-XX as more than a simple replacement for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler. The US Navy’s Next Generation Air Dominance (F/A-XX) program office, PMA-230, appears to have a new logo.