Boeing wins $20 billion-plus F/A-XX contract to build US Navy’s next-generation fighter

Boeing has won a contract worth more than $20 billion to develop the US Navy’s sixth-generation F/A-XX carrier-based fighter, securing its second major next-generation fighter award in 18 months.

Announced on September 29, the decision follows Boeing’s win of the Air Force’s F-47 fighter contract in March 2025, putting the company at the heart of both services’ future fighter fleets.

Boeing wins $20 billion-plus F/A-XX development contract

The Department of War announced that the Navy had selected Boeing for the full-scale development phase, including the delivery of multiple test aircraft.

The F/A-XX falls under the Navy’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. Technical details remain classified, and it is unclear how much Boeing will be able to draw on its ongoing work to develop the Air Force’s F-47.

Unlike the F-47 announcement, which revealed the aircraft’s designation alongside the contract award, the Navy’s fighter remains known as F/A-XX.

The decision comes later than previously anticipated. AGN reported in April that the F/A-XX winner was expected to be announced in August.

Boeing’s selection means Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have missed out on the prime contracts for both US sixth-generation fighter programs. Lockheed had reportedly already been eliminated from the Navy competition, leaving a two-horse race between Boeing and Northrop.

Both companies retain substantial combat aircraft work. Lockheed’s F-35 program will continue for decades, while Northrop is ramping up its B-21 bomber program and is a major supplier to the F-35.

Boeing prepares to build F/A-XX and F-47 in parallel

Steve Parker, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said: “It’s an honor to be selected to produce the Navy’s first sixth-generation platform.”

Parker added: “Delivering two advanced fighters in parallel was always our plan, and we invested accordingly. We are ready and able to build multiple concurrent future combat aircraft franchise programs.”

Boeing said construction is continuing at its manufacturing facility in St. Louis, which will form part of what it describes as the “world’s most advanced, all-digital aerospace design and manufacturing system.”

The investment will support Boeing as it prepares to develop two advanced fighters while continuing work on existing combat aircraft programs.

What we know about the F/A-XX so far

The F/A-XX is intended to replace the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornets beginning in the 2030s, while complementing its fleet of fifth-generation F-35Cs.

One of its major improvements is expected to be longer range. As threats to aircraft carriers increase, operating farther from hostile territory places greater demands on the reach of their aircraft and supporting tankers.

The Department of War says the F/A-XX is being designed from the outset to operate with crewed and uncrewed platforms, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

Boeing is building the MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone that is also earmarked for a greater mission set. The Stingray will be integrated with the new fighter.

It says the F/A-XX will start replacing Super Hornets in the “2030s.” Previous reporting has suggested an in-service target date of 2035, but it’s unclear if that remains the target. The F-47 is expected to enter service around 2030.

Boeing is expected to deliver its final F/A-18s in 2027 and then shut down the production line. It is also moving to ramp up F-15EX Strike II production to a rate of 24-36 per year to meet new Air Force and export orders.