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. The contract includes multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, systems and weapons integration testing. 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. The new fighter will operate alongside the F‑35C and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Boeing was selected over Northrop Grumman after the competition was narrowed to the two companies. Replacing legacy carrier‑based aircraft will affect Navy fleet planning, carrier air wing composition and long‑term sustainment costs, impacting operational budgeting and logistics.