U.S. defense startup Stavatti Aerospace has formally entered the debate over future naval air power with a comprehensive proposal positioning its SM-39 Razor as a solution for the U.S. Navy’s Next Carrier Air Dominance (NCAD) requirement. Released in January 2026, the proposal calls for a fleet of 600 sixth-generation fighters, each priced at a stated $85 million flyaway cost, resulting in a projected program value of $51 billion. Stavatti proposes a delivery window spanning 2031 to 2037, alongside a training framework anchored by 50 advanced full-mission simulators. The timing coincides with renewed congressional and Pentagon focus on revitalizing the Navy’s F/A-XX carrier fighter effort.
According to company disclosures, the SM-39 Razor is built around a highly unconventional airframe optimized for extreme speed and reduced radar signature. The design incorporates a triple-fuselage, low-observable planform intended to minimize drag at supersonic velocities. Stavatti claims the aircraft would achieve Mach 4-plus top speeds and sustain supercruise above Mach 2.5, performance levels that exceed current U.S. Navy fighters. Power would be provided by next-generation adaptive-cycle engines, emphasizing enhanced thermal management and electrical output to support future sensors, electronic warfare systems, and emerging mission effects.
Weapons carriage is presented as a core strength of the SM-39 concept. The aircraft is designed around two internal weapons bays and an internally mounted M61A2 Vulcan 20 mm cannon with a 1,000-round capacity. The forward weapons bay, rated for 5,000 pounds, supports air-to-air and precision-strike missions, while a larger center bay rated at 12,000 pounds enables carriage of heavy munitions via a rotary launcher. Stavatti’s illustrative configurations show the Razor carrying multiple long-range air-to-air missiles or 2,000-pound guided bombs internally, preserving stealth during early strike phases.
For missions where stealth is less critical, the proposal includes four external jettisonable pylons, each capable of carrying 4,500 pounds of ordnance or fuel. These stations are described as compatible with a wide range of U.S. Navy weapons, including anti-ship and standoff strike munitions. Stavatti also highlights growth margins for future directed-energy weapons, citing onboard power generation and cooling capacity that could eventually support laser systems. While the feasibility of achieving such performance in a carrier-compatible design remains unproven, the SM-39 Razor underscores the expanding ambition surrounding sixth-generation naval fighter concepts.
