US firm pitches radical triple-body fighter concept for Navy program

Stavatti Aerospace, a relatively unknown company, has entered the US Navy’s F/A-XX Next Generation Air Dominance competition with its radical SM-39 Razor concept. This program aims to develop a sixth-generation carrier-based fighter to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and is distinct from the Air Force’s next-gen fighter by emphasizing multirole capabilities, carrier suitability, electronic warfare, and command-and-control functions for coordinating uncrewed combat aircraft. Traditionally dominated by defense giants Boeing and Northrop Grumman, Stavatti’s entry stands out due to its unconventional triple-fuselage design integrated into a blended-wing body, promising exceptional performance metrics including speeds up to Mach 4 and supercruise at Mach 2.5, along with superior range, payload, and climb rates. However, the SM-39 Razor’s ambitious specifications have sparked significant skepticism within the aerospace community. Experts question the feasibility of achieving Mach 4 speeds with turbofan engines on a carrier