Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.S. Department of Defense may finally be ready to choose which company will develop and build the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter. A report from Reuters today states that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally gave the green light for the selection last Friday. However, this is not the first time that there have been reports that this decision was imminent, as you can read about here, but these came to nothing.
A rendering of a notional sixth-generation crewed stealth combat jet for the Navy flying alongside an advanced drone. Boeing
The Reuters report publishes details provided by “a U.S. official and two people familiar with the decision.” Similar comments provided to Breaking Defense were attributed to “two sources.” The upshot is that the Pentagon could choose its preferred F/A-XX design this week. The program has long been even more secretive than the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance jet, which emerged earlier this year as the Boeing F-47. What is clear, however, is that the F/A-XX decision is now months later than planned.
Also interesting is the timing of this apparent move, coming so soon after President Donald Trump’s visit to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush over the weekend. He went aboard the carrier as the Navy celebrated its 250th anniversary and witnessed a firepower demonstration. While aboard the warship, Trump also met with senior Navy officials and saw the hardware of the current carrier air wing at close quarters — including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and E/A-18 Growlers that the F/A-XX will eventually replace.
President Donald J. Trump, middle, First Lady Melania Trump, right, Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, right, and Adm. Leslie Mintz, Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, observe as an F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) on October 5, 2025. U.S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ceszar J. Villalbabaldonado Chief Petty Officer Ian Cotter
If the report is true, and F/A-XX is moving forward, it’s right on cue. Trump just spent the day on carrier with a full capabilities demo from the flotilla & spoke with key players. All the tech was on display & the pitch was clearly made for what is needed. The services are keen… https://t.co/ruyH0ASGzA
At this point, the F/A-XX contest is understood to have narrowed to two companies.
Northrop Grumman is one of them. When it exited the USAF’s NGAD program around 2023, Northrop Grumman said it would focus on other priorities, including the F/A-XX, as well as the B-21 Raider stealth bomber. Earlier this summer, the company presented a conceptual rendering for its submission for F/A-XX.
The other F/A-XX contender is thought to be Boeing, the prime contractor for the F-47.
Another Boeing rendering of a notional next-generation carrier-based fighter. Boeing
TWZ approached the Navy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense for comment on the apparent new development. Both declined to comment.
Notably, the Reutersstory also includes the caveat, which it attributes to one or more of the sources, that “last-minute snags have delayed progress on the Navy jet in the past and could do so again.”
This points to the fact that, for many months now, the future of the F/A-XX program has been under scrutiny, with growing signs that it was at best in limbo. Boeing pushed back on that assertion back in June of this year.
Notably, like this report, it was Reuters that, in March of this year, published a story suggesting that the Navy was set to confirm the choice of F/A-XX that same week, something that never materialized.
In June, the Pentagon’s proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year included enough funding to complete initial development work but didn’t include any further funds to actually start buying the aircraft. U.S. military officials said that this decision was made to avoid competition for resources with the Air Force’s F-47 and amid concerns about whether the U.S. industrial base would be able to handle work on both programs simultaneously.
Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Boeing F-47, the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter. U.S. Air Force graphic
At the same time, there have been questions, too, about whether Northrop Grumman would be able to support work on the F/A-XX while also grappling with the demands of the Air Force’s Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, which is behind schedule and over-budget.
In July, however, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a draft defense spending bill that would reverse the Pentagon’s plan to freeze the F/A-XX program, as you can read about here. Approved by the committee in July, that version of the 2026 Fiscal Year Defense Appropriations Bill included $1.4 billion for F/A-XX.
The figure of $1.4 billion had also appeared in a call for additional F/A-XX funding that the Navy had reportedly included in its annual Unfunded Priority List (UPL) sent to Congress earlier in July.
While there has apparently been something of a dispute between the Navy and Pentagon leadership over the direction the program should take, the Navy has long spoken about its centrality to its future carrier aviation plans.
“The Navy has a validated requirement for carrier-based sixth-generation aircraft, and it is critical that we field that capability as quickly as possible to give our warfighters the capabilities they need to win against a myriad of emerging threats,” Adm. Daryl Caudle, the nominee to become the next Chief of Naval Operations, wrote in response to a question about F/A-XX ahead of his confirmation hearing in July.
Caudle was also present at the Navy’s 250th birthday in Norfolk, Virginia, wearing a flight suit alongside President Trump.
President Donald J. Trump, right, and Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, speak on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). U.S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Gonzalez Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Gonzalez
Not lost on Navy officials is the rapid pace of development that China is currently making in terms of carrier aviation.
The latest evidence suggests that China’s Shenyang J-35, its next-generation carrier-based fighter, may have entered limited series production and could even be in service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Once again, if we’ve learnt anything from the secretive F/A-XX program, it’s that it doesn’t always take the course that might be expected. But the appearance of Trump and Hegseth very much in the spotlight as the Navy marked its 250th anniversary, and China continuing to develop its carrier aviation capabilities at an impressive rate, might indicate that a decision on who will make the Navy’s next carrier-based fighter is finally due.
NEWS BRIEF U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a deal to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas may be reached “soon,” following what he termed his “last warning” to the group to accept proposed terms. While Trump provided no specifics, Hamas confirmed it had received U.S. ideas through mediators and reiterated its […]
Mohamed Salah has anointed Arsenal the “FAVOURITES” to win the Premier League this season.
Speaking to PFA awards presenter Cecil Thomas, who is a Gunners fan, he said: “I think you are the favourite now because you players who have been together for five years.
“I can’t say I’ll wish you luck – hopefully we do it again.”
Arteta reflects on Gyokeres debut
Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Viktor Gyokeres following his Premier League debut against Manchester United.
He said of the Swede: “He did a lot of things very good. You can tell, especially in our high pressing, the rhythm that we demand, especially in the first half, we’re giving a bit too much time.
“It’s something that we have to work on, especially there.
“And then in the finalising situation, he didn’t have that many chances to do that because, as I said, on the previous action before we had to play that last ball that the line was standing still with 40 metres behind, we managed to put the ball through to exploit his quality.
“But overall, coming away to Manchester United, winning your first game with Arsenal, it’s a good start.
Manchester United are on the verge of signing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford with a medical understood to be imminent.
Manchester United have reportedly agreed to sign Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in a deal worth an initial $87m as Ruben Amorim steps up his overhaul of the team’s misfiring attack.
Mbeumo attracted Amorim’s attention with 20 goals in 38 Premier League games for Brentford last season.
Tottenham, now managed by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, were also chasing the 25-year-old before United’s improved offer sealed the deal after their two previous bids were rebuffed.
United will pay an additional 6 million pounds ($8.07m) in potential add-ons to Brentford.
Mbeumo is due to undergo a medical in time to travel to the United States on Tuesday as Amorim’s men start their pre-season tour.
He is set to become United’s third signing since the end of last season, joining Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and teenage Paraguayan defender Diego Leon at Old Trafford.
Amorim has been determined to revamp United’s forward options after a woeful campaign.
They suffered a toothless 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final and a 15th-place finish in the top flight that ranked as their lowest since 1973-74.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggled as Amorim’s main strikers last term.
Amorim has reportedly told Alejandro Garnacho to look for a new club, while Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are expected to leave following their loan spells at Aston Villa and Chelsea, respectively.
Mbeumo will be Amorim’s latest new recruit in his bid to revitalise moribund United.
Having already paid 62.5 million pounds ($84.03m) for Cunha, United’s spending spree comes despite their failure to qualify for the Champions League costing the club a minimum of 70 million pounds ($94.11m).
The versatile Mbeumo is able to operate in a variety of roles on the flanks or in central attacking areas.
His pace, creativity and clinical finishing should be a significant boost to United.
Mbeumo blossomed in six years at Brentford, scoring 70 goals and providing 51 assists in 242 appearances in all competitions following his move from French club Troyes in 2019.
He helped the Bees win promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and was instrumental in their impressive 10th-place finish in 2024-25.
Love Island fans may be in for a huge treat, as host Maya Jama gave away a ‘huge clue’ that a major twist may be coming to the ITV2 dating show very soon…
Maya Jama drops ‘huge clue’ that something huge is coming to Love Island very soon(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Yesterday, fans were left in shock when Alima and Ryan were brutally dumped from the villa. However, their dumping was done via text, as host Maya was nowhere to be seen.
It’s not unusual for Islanders to be dumped without Maya in the villa, but when she does rock up, Love Island fans know something huge is coming. The 30-year-old host was last seen in the sleepover villa, as she informed the Islanders that their actions had consequences.
In scenes last week, Helena chose to recouple with Giorgio, and bring him to the main villa, when Maya later informed her that it meant her current partner, Shea, had been dumped from the villa. As the Islanders returned to the main villa, Maya disappeared from screens, but from her Instagram stories – it looks like she’ll be back very soon.
Maya revealed she was back in Mallorca this evening(Image: @mayajama/Instagram)
On Thursday evening, the host took to her Instagram story to inform fans she was back in Mallorca, with some stunning sunset views. Seeing as she has to get back to London by Sunday to host the After Sun show, it’s safe to say she’ll be heading into the villa in the coming days, if she hasn’t already.
Should that be the case, it means the scenes will be playing out on our screens sometime soon – but what could the huge twist be?
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan said: “Maya is going back to the villa soon as she’s back in Mallorca from what i saw on her IG.”
Love Island fans are convinced Casa Amor is round the corner (Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
What she’ll be entering the villa for is currently unknown, but many predict the iconic Casa Amor will be starting soon…
“I smell Casa Amor coming very soon,” wrote one fan, while another said: “Casa Amor is soon and there’s no strong couples… There will genuinely be 30 people in that villa.”
Despite Casa Amor being a fan favourite segment in the show, this year, fans don’t think it will bring the same level of drama. In previous years, the new villa has been known to break up some of the strongest couples.
Fans now predict that due to there not being many solid couples in the villa, more Islanders than ever before will chose to couple up.
This series promises more twists and turns than ever, so is Maya heading into the villa for Casa Amor? Or could it be something else?
Love Island 2025 airs every night at 9PM on ITV2 and ITVX.
Amongst all the drama with Bernie and Felix’s exit in tonight’s EastEnders, fans were left in shock when Johnny and Callum shared a passionate kiss – despite his marriage to Ben
Fans think Ben Mitchell’s return will be ‘imminent’ as Callum and Johnny continue to get closer(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
In tonight’s EastEnders, Felix Baker was left in tears after spotting his boyfriend Johnny Carter share a kiss with Callum Highway, despite him still being married to Ben Mitchell.
During Pride celebrations in The Albert, Johnny was seen apologising to Callum after berating him for putting his life on hold while Ben serves time in prison in America.
“You are a young, hot man with a life, a job, a future. When is your life going to be about you?” Johnny questioned before the two shared a passionate kiss.
A devastated Felix decided to pack his bags and leave, and although Callum is still married to Ben, spoilers for next week confirm things will go one step further between the pair, as they’re set to spend the night together.
Callum and Johnny shared a kiss in tonight’s episode – and things are about to escalate….(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
It’s been rumoured that Max Bowden will be reprising his role as Ben Mitchell, and now fans think is return is sooner than we think.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “I bet this will be a actual affair between Callum and Johnny and it’s funny they have Callum hooking up with someone when Ben is about to come back.”
Another Ballum fan penned: “I know I’m late to the conversation but I only have this to say regarding Johnny/Callum – it’s unfortunate but irrelevant. Ben is coming back so drama was inevitable. I’m not worried.”
A source told the Sun of the reported return: “Ben [Wadey] had a list of characters he wanted to bring back, and Ben Mitchell was one. It’s taken a little while to sort out, but Max will be back filming on Albert Square later this year.”
Max is rumoured to be returning to the BBC soap as Ben Mitchell (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
“Ben wanted to meet Max and see where his head was at,” the source continued, revealing that the new boss went to see the actor in the musical Midnight Cowboy.
“Things hadn’t ended particularly well, and Ben wanted to assure him this could be his fresh start,” the source continued. They then revealed that Max had “agreed to come back for a short stint” after Ben pitched a comeback storyline for the character.
Ben was last seen on screens in 2023 after being arrested for an international crime. He’s currently in prison in America but the character is mentioned regularly by his father Phil and husband Callum. Will we be seeing his return in the near future?
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. *
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that China is preparing to invade Taiwan. Hegseth made the comments at a global defence meeting in Singapore. Chinese officials rejected the allegations as ‘defamatory’.
The US defense secretary warned that China poses a real threat to Taiwan
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has warned of China posing an “imminent” threat to Taiwan, while urging Asian countries to boost defence spending and work with the US to deter war.
Hegseth also said that while the US does not “seek to dominate or strangle China”, the US would not be pushed out of Asia and would not allow intimidation of allies.
He was addressing top Asian military officials at the Shangri-la Dialogue, a high-level defence summit held annually in Singapore.
Many in Asia fear potential instability if China invades Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by Beijing. China has not ruled out the use of force.
In his speech, Hegseth characterised China as seeking to become a “hegemonic power” that “hopes to dominate and control too many parts” of Asia. China has clashed with several neighbours over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.
He said that Beijing was “credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power” in Asia, and referred to a 2027 deadline that President Xi Jinping has allegedly given for China’s military to be capable to invade Taiwan.
This is a date put forth by US officials and generals for years, but has never been confirmed by Beijing.
China “is building the military needed to do it, training for it, every day and rehearsing for the real deal”, Hegseth said.
“Let me be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent. We hope not but certainly could be.”
Getty Images
Chinese fighter jets have been intruding in Taiwan’s airspace in what’s been termed as greyzone tactics
The US does not seek war or conflict with China, Hegseth added.
“We do not seek to dominate or strangle China, to encircle or provoke. We do not seek regime change… but we must ensure that China cannot dominate us or our allies and partners,” he said, adding “we will not be pushed out of this critical region.”
Beijing’s lack of response comes amid a deliberately diminished presence at the dialogue.
The event has traditionally served as a platform for the US and China to make their pitches to Asian countries as the superpowers jostle for influence.
But while this year the US has sent one of its largest delegations ever, China instead has sent a notably lower-level team and scrapped its planned speech on Sunday. No explanation has been given for this.
‘Deterrence doesn’t come cheap’
To prevent war, the US wants “a strong shield of deterrence” forged with allies, said Hegseth, who promised the US would “continue to wrap our arms around our friends and find new ways to work together”.
But he stressed that “deterrence does not come cheap” and urged Asian countries to ramp up their defence spending, pointing to Europe as an example.
US President Donald Trump has demanded members of the Western alliance Nato spend more on defence, at least 5% of their GDPs – an approach Hegseth called “tough love, but love nonetheless”. Some countries like Estonia have moved quickly to do so, while others like Germany have signalled an openness to comply.
“How can it make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies and partners in Asia spend less in the face of a more formidable threat?” he said with reference to China, adding that North Korea was a threat as well.
“Europe is stepping up. US allies in the Indo-Pacific can, and should, follow by quickly upgrading their own defences,” he insisted, saying they should be “partners, not dependents” on the US.
He touted US military hardware and also pointed to a new Indo-Pacific partnership for defence industrial resilience. Its first projects are establishing a radar repair centre in Australia for US maritime patrol aircraft purchased by allies, and aiding the production of unmanned drones in the region.
He also warned Asian countries against seeking economic ties with China, saying Beijing would use it as “leverage” to deepen their “malign influence”, complicating US defence decisions.
Answering a question about Macron’s proposal, he said the US “would much prefer that the overwhelming balance of European investment be on that continent” so that the US could use its “comparative advantage” in the Indo-Pacific.
‘Common sense’ vision
Hegseth also sold Trump’s vision of “common sense” in dealing with the rest of the world, where “America does not have or seek permanent enemies”.
He compared the US President to the late Singaporean statesman Lee Kuan Yew, who was famous for his pragmatic realpolitik in foreign relations.
“The United States is not interested in the moralistic and preachy approach to foreign policy of the past. We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace and adopt policies or ideologies. We are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues. We are not here to impose our will on you,” he said.
It was an approach that Democratic Party Senator Tammy Duckworth, who was part of the US delegation in Singapore, criticised.
Speaking separately to reporters at the dialogue, the member of the Senate’s foreign relations committee said Hegseth and Trump’s vision was “inconsistent with the values on which our nation was founded”.
Others “know what we stand for, we stand for basic human rights, we stand for international law and order. And that’s what we are going to continue to push for. And I know that in the Senate we’re going to try to uphold that or else it would be un-American otherwise,” she said.
Duckworth also took aim at Hegseth’s overall message to allies in the region, calling it “patronising”.
“His idea where we wrap ourselves around you – we don’t need that kind of language. We need to stand with our allies, work together, and send the message that America is not asking people to choose between the PRC (People’s Republic of China) and us.”
Other members of the delegation, Republican representatives Brian Mast and John Moolenaar, told the BBC the speech sent a clear message of China’s threat and it was welcomed by many Asian countries, according to meetings they had with officials.
“The message I’ve heard is that people want to see freedom of navigation and respect for neighbours, but feel intimidated by some of the aggressive actions that China has displayed,” said Moolenaar, who is chairman of a House committee on competition between US and China.
“So the presence of the US is welcome and encouraged. And the message was to continue to be present.”
That suspension ends at the end of next month, freeing him up to come back to his role at Spurs.
Paratici will have an influence on who Tottenham go for next in the dugout provided there is no emotional U-turn on Postecoglou if he is triumphant in Europe.
That is not expected to happen given the team’s disastrous league campaign.
Spurs have racked up a record 21 defeats and are languishing in 17th place.
Paratici is understood to have close ties to Simone Inzaghi.
But the Inter Milan chief is set to stick with the Champions League finalists next season.
