Budget documents indicate that the F-47 funding will come entirely from baseline discretionary spending. In contrast, $72 million of the F/A-XX funding is tied to a proposed reconciliation bill.
“The Administration is sending a clear message to the nation’s adversaries by aggressively moving forward with the F-47 sixth-generation fighter: that the U.S. military will secure command of the skies, deter aggression, and project power anywhere on the globe,” the documents state. “The 2027 request continues to prioritize the rapid development and production of the F-47, and would achieve a first flight in 2028.”
The disparity in funding could prompt renewed debate among the Pentagon, the White House and Congress. Lawmakers have previously shown fluctuating levels of support for the Navy’s F/A-XX program.
In 2026, Congress significantly increased funding for F/A-XX, raising it from $74 million to $897 million. Combined with $750 million from reconciliation funding, the program received nearly $1.7 billion in total enacted support.
Lawmakers have requested additional details on the Navy’s acquisition strategy and spending plans for the aircraft. They also sought clarification on delays in using funds allocated in prior years.
By comparison, the F-47 program received $2.5 billion in the 2026 budget request along with $900 million in reconciliation funding. This brought total funding for the Boeing-built aircraft to $3.5 billion last year.
The 2027 proposal also includes funding for F-35 fighter procurement across multiple services. The administration is requesting a total of 85 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
Of these, 38 F-35s would go to the Air Force, 37 to the Navy and 10 to the Marine Corps. Officials said 32 of the aircraft would be funded through discretionary spending and 53 through reconciliation funding.
The budget reflects broader priorities in U.S. airpower modernization. It highlights a focus on advancing next-generation capabilities while continuing investment in existing platforms.
Source: Defense One.
