Stavatti Aerospace has unveiled an alternative concept for the US Navy’s Next Carrier Air Dominance (NCAD) program, proposing a new fighter design intended to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the 2030s.
Designated SM-39 Razor, the aircraft features a low-observable triple-fuselage configuration aimed at reducing wave drag during sustained supersonic flight. Stavatti claims the platform can achieve speeds of up to Mach 4 and supercruise at speeds exceeding Mach 2.5.
According to the company, the SM-39 is designed to integrate a range of directed-energy weapons, including systems currently under development by Northrop Grumman. The aircraft is planned in three variants—single-seat, tandem-seat, and fully autonomous—built around a modular cockpit architecture that supports both manned and unmanned operations.
The central fuselage houses the primary avionics suite, including a Raytheon active electronically scanned array radar, the nose landing gear, and two internal weapons bays. Propulsion is provided by a twin-engine configuration combining advanced General Electric designs with elements from Stavatti’s NeoThrust E1400 engine line.
The concept’s unveiling follows the reported release of NCAD program assumptions earlier this month, which outlined the proposed scope of the effort. Current plans call for a minimum fleet of 600 aircraft priced at approximately $85 million each, representing an estimated total program value of $51 billion.
Deliveries are expected between 2031 and 2037, alongside the procurement of 50 mission simulators to support training. To meet anticipated demand, Stavatti has outlined plans for a new US production facility capable of manufacturing up to 200 aircraft annually and sustaining roughly 1,600 skilled jobs over the next two decades.
