On 7/8, US defense corporation Northrop Grumman unveiled concept art for the F/A-XX, a 6th-generation fighter jet expected to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C Lightning II currently in service with the US Navy.

The image shows the nose, single-pilot cockpit, and forward fuselage of the F/A-XX on an aircraft carrier deck. The aircraft is optimized for stealth, with a wide nose to accommodate a large aperture radar.

"The most interesting feature is the engine intake, which is positioned above the wing and has a slightly curved shape, extending from the aircraft's spine to the wing," commented Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogoway, editors at the US military website War Zone.

Conceptual design of the 6th-generation F/A-XX carrier-based fighter. Graphic: Northrop Grumman

Intake design is one of the most sensitive aspects of stealth aircraft, as manufacturers must find ways to conceal the engine fan blades while ensuring sufficient airflow for operation under various conditions.

"This component in Northrop Grumman's drawing seems rather unusual, appearing too small for practical requirements. Positioning the intakes above the wing offers stealth advantages, but risks insufficient airflow to the engine, particularly during complex fighter maneuvers," the two editors noted.

The F/A-XX program has been kept more secretive than the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) F-47 fighter project, with participating companies releasing almost no concept art. The three largest US aerospace corporations, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, are all competing for the F/A-XX development contract, but Lockheed Martin appears to have been eliminated in March.

Military experts believe the F/A-XX program's product may be the F-55 fighter jet that former President Donald Trump revealed in May.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, War Zone)