House appropriators are concerned the Defense Department will not be able to award a critical contract for the Navy’s next-generation fighter jet by August, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense . Earlier this month, appropriators signaled they would increase funding for F/A-XX to $915 million in fiscal year 2027, after the Navy requested just $140 million in research and development funding. Navy officials have stated they plan to spread last year’s appropriation of $1.7 billion across...