Boeing awarded >$20 B contract to develop U.S. Navy sixth‑generation F/A‑XX fighter

The U.S. Navy has selected Boeing to lead full‑scale development of the F/A‑XX, a sixth‑generation carrier‑based stealth fighter. The contract, valued at more than $20 billion, covers multiple test aircraft and aims to replace the F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet and EA‑18G Growler beginning in the 2030s.

The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a contract worth more than $20 billion for full‑scale development of the sixth‑generation carrier‑based fighter F/A‑XX.¹³⁴ The contract includes multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, systems and weapons integration testing.¹⁴ The F/A‑XX is intended to augment and eventually replace the Navy’s F/A‑18E/F Super Hornets and EA‑18G Growlers starting in the 2030s.¹³⁴ The new fighter will operate alongside the F‑35C and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).¹⁴ Boeing was selected over Northrop Grumman after the competition was narrowed to the two companies.³ Replacing legacy carrier‑based aircraft will affect Navy fleet planning, carrier air wing composition and long‑term sustainment costs, impacting operational budgeting and logistics.¹³⁴