Story perspectives

World Powers Boost Sixth-Gen Fighter Programs, US Adds $140M

6/18/2026

Summary

US Funds F/A-XX

U.S. FY27 request allocates $140 million to the F/A-XX, decision in August.
Boeing named contractor for Air Force F-47 NGAD in 2025, FY2027 funding.
Europe’s FCAS, a France-Germany-Spain project, aims for 2040 capability, €100 billion cost.
UK-Italy-Japan Edgewing won £686 million 2026 contract for sixth-generation fighter by 2035.
China’s J-36 can command drone swarms, prompting analysts to say labels should focus on electronic-warfare capability.

Summary

Gripen E Advantage

The Gripen E costs $10,000 per flight hour versus $40,000 for the F-35, totaling $180 million versus $400 million over 8,000 hours.
F-35 maintenance needs U.S. approval, whereas Gripen operators can service the aircraft independently.
Gripen E’s newer software and decision-support tools allow easier upgrades than the F-35.
Because the United States buys over 50 % of F-35s, it directs the program, while the UK, Germany, Poland and France operate mixed fleets for role specialization.

History

Historical Context

Development of the Eurofighter began with the 1994 prototype flight and a production contract signed on 30 January 1998; the Typhoon entered service in 2003 and today the program totals about 680 ordered jets. The multinational consortium—Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo—managed by the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, set a precedent for later multinational fighter programmes.

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US Funds F/A-XX

U.S. FY27 request allocates $140 million to the F/A-XX, decision in August.
Boeing named contractor for Air Force F-47 NGAD in 2025, FY2027 funding.
Europe’s FCAS, a France-Germany-Spain project, aims for 2040 capability, €100 billion cost.
UK-Italy-Japan Edgewing won £686 million 2026 contract for sixth-generation fighter by 2035.
China’s J-36 can command drone swarms, prompting analysts to say labels should focus on electronic-warfare capability.

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