{"id":70382,"date":"2025-05-16T17:44:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T17:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:11:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:11:19","slug":"pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President Donald Trump\u2019s comments Thursday in Qatar about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/03\/21\/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/03\/21\/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47\/\">future fighter jets planned for the U.S. military<\/a> have baffled observers and been met with silence from the Pentagon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a roundtable discussion in Doha, Qatar, flanked by the heads of Boeing and GE Aerospace, Trump surprised many in the military aviation world by asserting a twin-engined F-35 successor, which he dubbed the F-55, was in the works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe F-35, we\u2019re doing an upgrade, a simple upgrade,\u201d Trump said. \u201cBut we\u2019re also doing an F-55, I\u2019m going to call it an F-55. And that\u2019s going to be a substantial upgrade. But it\u2019s going to be also with two engines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump added that a modernized version of the F-22, which he referred to as \u201cF-22 Super,\u201d was in the works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Frank Kendall, the secretary of the Air Force during former President Joe Biden\u2019s administration, said in an interview with Defense News that it is unclear what Trump was referring to when he discussed an \u201cF-22 Super,\u201d but it may have been a reference to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/opinion\/2025\/04\/09\/did-the-trump-administration-move-too-quickly-to-commit-to-the-f-47\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/opinion\/2025\/04\/09\/did-the-trump-administration-move-too-quickly-to-commit-to-the-f-47\/\">F-47 sixth-generation fighter jet<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/05\/14\/air-force-eyes-longer-range-for-f-47-as-combat-edge-in-pacific-theater\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/05\/14\/air-force-eyes-longer-range-for-f-47-as-combat-edge-in-pacific-theater\/\">F-47, which was previously referred to as Next Generation Air Dominance<\/a>, is intended to replace the service\u2019s fleet of about 185 F-22 Raptors. The Air Force has worked for years on NGAD, and in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/03\/21\/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/03\/21\/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47\/\">March awarded Boeing<\/a> the contract to build them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Trump\u2019s F-55 comments came with no additional details, and the government has not provided any further clarity on what he meant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force and Navy referred questions about Trump\u2019s comments to the White House. A White House spokesperson contacted by Defense News referred questions to another spokesperson, who did not immediately respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lockheed Martin, which makes both the F-35 and F-22, did not address specific questions about Trump\u2019s comments but issued a statement that read, \u201cWe thank President Trump for his support of the F-35 and F-22 and will continue to work closely with the administration to realize its vision for air dominance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kendall said it is also unclear what Trump was referring to when he discussed the alleged F-55.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPresident Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don\u2019t exist,\u201d Kendall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aviation expert Richard Aboulafia suggested Trump may be \u201ctrolling\u201d the public with his suggestion of an F-55 fighter jet. When asked whether he could think of anything that might fit Trump\u2019s reference to an F-55, Aboulafia said, \u201cOther than from Revell model kits from a couple decades ago? No.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Navy is working on its own sixth-generation fighter, which it refers to as F\/A-XX. It is unclear whether Trump\u2019s F-55 comments may have been in reference to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump also disparaged the F-35\u2019s single-engine design and suggested that could put the jet at risk if an engine failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAn F-35 has a single engine; I don\u2019t like single engines,\u201d Trump said, before gesturing to GE Aerospace chief executive Larry Culp. \u201cEven this man, he\u2019s the best in the world at engines. But on occasion, I know you won\u2019t admit this, if an engine goes out, it\u2019s nice to have two, three or four. That\u2019s why I like the 747, it\u2019s got four.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kendall pointed out that the Air Force now flies about 830 F-16s and 471 F-35As, which have single engines, versus the 185 F-22s and more than 250 F-15s that account for its twin-engined jets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe bulk of our fighter fleet is single-engine aircraft, and has been for forever,\u201d Kendall said. \u201cThose engines are highly reliable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The F-35 program, Lockheed Martin and engine maker Pratt &amp; Whitney are working on a variety of improvements to the Joint Strike Fighter, which Trump may have been referring to when he discussed the jets\u2019 \u201csimple upgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A series of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2023\/12\/15\/f-35-head-warns-future-upgrades-at-risk-production-shutdown-possible\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2023\/12\/15\/f-35-head-warns-future-upgrades-at-risk-production-shutdown-possible\/\">upgrades called Block 4<\/a> are intended to improve the F-35\u2019s sensors, target recognition and electronic warfare capabilities, and allow it to carry more weapons. Lockheed Martin told reporters earlier this year that it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/03\/04\/f-35s-to-get-new-capabilities-with-summer-software-update\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/03\/04\/f-35s-to-get-new-capabilities-with-summer-software-update\/\">planned to start rolling out some early Block 4 capabilities<\/a> to the F-35 this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pratt &amp; Whitney is also working on modernizing the F-35\u2019s existing engines with a core upgrade, which is intended to deliver more power, thrust and cooling capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lockheed Martin executives said in an April earnings call they hoped to adapt some sixth-generation technologies, developed as part of their NGAD bid, into the F-35 and F-22. This would create a \u201csupercharged,\u201d \u201cfifth generation-plus\u201d jet, Lockheed chief executive Jim Taiclet said, akin to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/04\/22\/lockheed-wants-to-turn-f-35-into-a-ferrari-with-sixth-gen-tech\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/04\/22\/lockheed-wants-to-turn-f-35-into-a-ferrari-with-sixth-gen-tech\/\">making an F-35 into a \u201cFerrari.\u201d<\/a> Taiclet said this may allow the F-35 to deliver most of the capabilities of an NGAD jet at half the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The intentions behind Trump\u2019s comments about upgrading the F-35 and the F-55, and his preference for a dual-engine jet, were unclear. But Aboulafia said that if Trump was advocating for modifying the F-35 with a pair of engines, that would be virtually impossible short of a massive restructuring of the entire jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do that, he said, Lockheed Martin would have to \u201crip apart the entire middle of an F-35, [and] replace it with a completely different middle. You should probably get new wings with it \u2026 just for stability. \u2026 That might be the worst idea ever, but theoretically, sure [it could be done]. It would just be a new aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump also suggested military aircraft\u2019s stealth capabilities are quickly cracked by potential adversaries and rendered obsolete, and he disparaged the aesthetics that result from a low-observability design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes, you know, stealth, they do stealth,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI\u2019m not a huge believer in stealth, because stealth is basically, a lot of it\u2019s the design and the shape. \u2026 You\u2019re going to design an ugly plane for stealth reasons. And then six months later, they\u2019re going to figure out this, and then you\u2019re stuck with a plane.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s new stance on stealth differed from remarks he made during his first administration, when he repeatedly extolled the F-35\u2019s stealth capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can\u2019t see it,\u201d Trump said in 2017. \u201cYou literally can\u2019t see it. It\u2019s hard to fight a plane you can\u2019t see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Top Air Force leaders have not indicated any desire to step away from stealth capabilities. To the contrary, the service has emphasized the need for future combat aircraft to be as undetectable as possible to survive in a potential conflict with China, whose military is nearest in capabilities to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The upcoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber and F-47 have been designed with advanced stealth capabilities, and the drone wingmen known as collaborative combat aircraft will also use stealth. The Air Force has even considered adding stealth capabilities to a next-generation refueling tanker, to allow it to refuel jets closer to a combat zone, though budget concerns have put those plans in doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fifth-generation F-22 is also a stealth fighter, which seemed not to have lessened Trump\u2019s enthusiasm for its profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the most beautiful fighter jet in the world is the F-22,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cPresident Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don\u2019t exist,&#8221; said former SECAF Frank Kendall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":119744,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":7,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news"],"primary_category":"your-military"},"4":{"categories":["your-air-force","newsletters","daily-news-roundup","news"],"primary_category":"your-air-force"},"5":{"categories":["news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","your-army"],"primary_category":"news"},"6":{"categories":["your-marine-corps","newsletters","daily-news-roundup","news"],"primary_category":"your-marine-corps"},"7":{"categories":["your-navy","newsletters","daily-news-roundup","news"],"primary_category":"your-navy"}}},"categories":[7,160,36],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3412],"class_list":["post-70382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air","category-daily-news-roundup","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"W5AO4MDNBBFB5AWZURTKMJ44JI","arc_canonical_url":"\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cPresident Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don\u2019t exist,&quot; said former SECAF Frank Kendall.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cPresident Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don\u2019t exist,&quot; said former SECAF Frank Kendall.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Defense News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-16T17:44:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T01:11:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Stephen Losey\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Stephen Losey\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2025-05-16T17:44:20+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T01:11:19+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 1196,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Air Warfare\",\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments - Defense News\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2025-05-16T17:44:20+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T01:11:19+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"\u201cPresident Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don\u2019t exist,\\\" said former SECAF Frank Kendall.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/16\\\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Air Warfare\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"air\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Defense News\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Covering the politics, business and technology of defense | Defense News\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Defense News\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/defensenews-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/defensenews-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Defense News\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments - Defense News","description":"\u201cPresident Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don\u2019t exist,\" said former SECAF Frank Kendall.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments","og_description":"\u201cPresident Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don\u2019t exist,\" said former SECAF Frank Kendall.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/","og_site_name":"Defense News","article_published_time":"2025-05-16T17:44:20+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T01:11:19+00:00","author":"Stephen Losey","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Stephen Losey","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments","datePublished":"2025-05-16T17:44:20+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T01:11:19+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/"},"wordCount":1196,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Air Warfare","Daily News Roundup","Newsletters"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/","name":"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments - Defense News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2025-05-16T17:44:20+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T01:11:19+00:00","description":"\u201cPresident Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don\u2019t exist,\" said former SECAF Frank Kendall.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/16\/pentagon-silent-aviation-experts-baffled-by-trumps-fighter-comments\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Air Warfare","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/","ad_zone":"air"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump\u2019s fighter comments"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","name":"Defense News","description":"Covering the politics, business and technology of defense | Defense News","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization","name":"Defense News","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/defensenews-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/defensenews-logo-white.png","caption":"Defense News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Defense News","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25135298324994.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70382"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70388,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70382\/revisions\/70388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70382"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=70382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}