US Lawmakers Approve $839B Defense Spending Bill for F/A-XX and F-47 Fighter Programs
The House and Senate's $839 billion fiscal 2026 defense spending bill includes $3.9 billion for sixth-generation aircraft, with $3 billion for the Air Force's F-47 and $972 million for the Navy's F/A-XX. The bill aims to prevent the cancellation of the E-7 Wedgetail program with $1.1 billion allocated.
It also supports the purchase of 47 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for $7.6 billion, and provides $474 million for the EA-37B Compass Call aircraft and $1.9 billion for the B-21 Raider bomber. Additionally, the bill allocates $27.2 billion for 17 Navy ships and revives funding for the F/A-XX program with an extra $897 million.
The Navy is required to submit a report detailing the F/A-XX acquisition strategy within 45 days. The bill emphasizes that funds cannot be used to pause or cancel the Next Generation Fighter program.
