The US Air Force's next-gen stealth fighter faces an uncertain future amid modernization cost woes

• The next US stealth fighter hangs in the balance as the Air Force weighs modernization costs.
• Officials suggest AI-enabled drone wingmen have a clearer future than the next-gen fighter jet.
• The drones could end up flying with the upcoming F-35 fleet and other modernized-but-older jets.

America's next stealth fighter, slated to replace the F-22 Raptor by the close of this decade, may no longer be a sure thing as Air Force officials struggle to balance the ledger amid a long list of high-profile modernization programs.