Could the F-55 Be America’s Next Carrier-Based Fighter? Trump Teases New Twin-Engine Jet

President Donald Trump has announced plans for a new U.S. fighter jet—the F-55, a twin-engine aircraft that analysts believe could be part of the Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX program.

“We’re working on a straightforward upgrade to the F-35 and developing the F-55,” Trump said during remarks on May 15. “It’ll be a significant leap forward. The F-55 will have two engines instead of one. I don’t like single-engine jets.”

While the F-35 manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, declined to comment directly on the F-55, it released a statement thanking Trump for his support of both the F-35 and F-22 programs and pledged continued cooperation with the U.S. government “to advance air dominance.”

A number of aerospace experts, including Thomas Newdick of The War Zone and Nick Cunningham of Agency Partners, cast doubt on the idea that the F-55 is simply a two-engine F-35 variant. Doubling the engines would likely require a complete redesign of the airframe, making the aircraft heavier, more expensive, and harder to maintain.

Instead, they believe the F-55 may refer to a new air superiority fighter under the F/A-XX program, the Navy’s ambitious sixth-generation stealth aircraft project meant to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the 2030s.

Trump’s remarks came amid speculation that the F/A-XX program—estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars—could be delayed by up to three years. According to Breaking Defense, Lockheed Martin was reportedly eliminated from the F/A-XX competition in March, leaving Boeing and Northrop Grumman as leading contenders.

Despite concerns, a U.S. defense official told reporters on May 13 that “no formal delay has been announced” and that the Pentagon, White House, and Congress are still reviewing the program. “This is a major decision that requires consensus—it won’t be made unilaterally,” the official said.

The Navy envisions the F/A-XX replacing both the Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler, using a shared airframe. A document from the Naval Air Forces Command, released in March, describes the F/A-XX as offering greater range, speed, and sensor capabilities, with a focus on manned-unmanned teaming, where UAVs will complement crewed aircraft in electronic warfare and strike roles.

“The Navy remains fully committed to the F/A-XX,” the document states, adding that the program is essential to shaping future carrier air wings. It also acknowledges the challenge of balancing near-term readiness with long-term modernization.

Still, budget disputes and competing priorities within the Pentagon have put the program at risk. According to Reuters, disagreements over timing and funding could derail the Navy’s goal of fielding the aircraft by the early 2030s. Without a signed development contract, delays could trigger a full program reset.

Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force efforts are advancing with the F-47, part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. The F-47 is expected to offer a combat radius exceeding 1,800 km, vastly outperforming current aircraft.

While the Air Force’s NGAD effort has been more public, the Navy has kept F/A-XX details tightly guarded. As War Zone editor Howard Altman notes, the F/A-XX is “central not only to tactical airpower but to the Navy’s entire future force structure.”

“Any major shifts in the F/A-XX timeline would have a ripple effect—forcing the Navy to rely longer on aging F/A-18s and Growlers,” Altman explained. “We might also see more resources shifted toward the F-35C in the interim.”

Newdick suggested Trump’s mention of the F-55 during his Gulf tour may have been a calculated move to attract interest from regional allies. Nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both tied to potential F-35 deals, could become target customers for the F-55. Qatar and Saudi Arabia were also key backers of the F-15 Advanced Eagle program, from which the U.S. benefitted through development of the F-15EX.

If the F-55 becomes a real program, it could mark a new chapter in U.S. naval aviation—and a major opportunity for defense cooperation in the Middle East.

(Sources: War Zone, AFP, AP)

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