Stavatti Aerospace has unveiled an expansive proposal positioning its SM-39 Razor fighter concept as a potential solution for the U.S. Navy’s Next Carrier Air Dominance (NCAD) requirement, representing one of the most far-reaching independent visions put forward in the emerging sixth-generation fighter landscape. Released in January 2026, the submission envisions a fleet of 600 aircraft procured at a claimed flyaway cost of $85 million per jet, placing the overall program value at approximately $51 billion. The concept anticipates aircraft deliveries from 2031 through 2037 and includes a comprehensive training framework built around 50 full-mission simulators.
The proposal’s release coincides with renewed activity around the Navy’s F/A-XX program, which has recently been revitalized after delays driven by budget pressures and congressional calls for faster progress.
Stavatti’s depiction of the SM-39 emphasizes extreme performance and advanced design. The aircraft is presented with a low-observable triple-fuselage layout aimed at minimizing supersonic wave drag, alongside claims of sustained flight speeds exceeding Mach 4 and supercruise above Mach 2.5. Power would be provided by adaptive-cycle afterburning turbofan engines, either a proprietary “NeoThrust” design or a class comparable to current U.S. adaptive-engine demonstrators. Consistent with wider industry direction, the propulsion concept highlights improved fuel efficiency, enhanced thermal management, and increased electrical power output to support advanced sensors and future mission effects. Achieving these performance targets in a carrier-capable platform while maintaining affordability and logistical viability remains an open challenge.
Weapons integration is one of the more fully detailed aspects of the proposal. The SM-39 is described as incorporating an internal 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon with a 1,000-round capacity, supported by two internal weapons bays. The forward bay, approximately 162 inches in length and rated for 5,000 pounds at 7.5 g, is intended to house air-to-air missiles or precision-guided weapons. A larger mid-fuselage bay rated at 12,000 pounds accommodates a rotary launcher and heavier strike payloads. Conceptual loadouts indicate the aircraft could carry up to six beyond-visual-range missiles internally or several 2,000-pound-class guided bombs while maintaining a low-observable configuration.
The design also allows for external carriage via four jettisonable wing stations, each rated at 4,500 pounds. These hardpoints are described as compatible with a wide array of U.S. Navy munitions, including anti-ship, anti-radiation, and long-range strike weapons, as well as large external fuel tanks. Stavatti cites an overall design payload capacity of 25,000 pounds enabled through standard digital weapons interfaces. The proposal further references future provisions for directed-energy weapons, pointing to onboard power generation and cooling capacity that could support high-energy laser systems as they become viable for tactical aviation.
