Low observability in future carrier aircraft

Should every future US Navy carrier fighter or attack aircraft be stealthy?

Most will likely include low-observable features, but mission, cost, and production needs will decide how central full stealth becomes.

The panel expects carrier fighters and attack aircraft to carry some degree of low observability as technology matures. That does not mean every airframe must maximize stealth at any price. Designers may treat it as a core requirement, a preferred characteristic, or mainly a matter of shaping, depending on mission and cost. Large production runs could reduce coating costs, while urgent demand for many cheap airframes could favor less complete treatments.