What Happened
Admiral Caudle Urges Action Amid Pentagon Delays and Congressional Support
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle is pressing for a quick decision on the Navy’s next-generation fighter program, known as F/A-XX, amid reported delays and in-fighting between Congress, the Navy, and the Defense Department. The program, which would complement Lockheed Martin’s F-35 in the Navy’s carrier air wings, has been stalled despite support from top defense hawks in Congress. Boeing and Northrop Grumman are competing to build the aircraft, with the Navy seeking to ensure it can keep pace with emerging threats. The decision was discussed at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, as reported by Breaking Defense.