The US Navy has selected Boeing to build and produce the sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter after months of delaying its down-selection.
Under a contract valued at more than $20 billion, Boeing is tasked with the full-scale development phase of the next-generation aircraft that is set to replace the aging F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler.
After beating Northrop Grumman in the F/A-XX competition and securing the F-47 program in March 2025, Boeing now holds both of the US military’s sixth-generation fighter contracts.
Amid concerns from the US government and the Pentagon about the company’s capability to build two high-priority initiatives, President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security Steve Parker said, “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,” he added.
F/A-XX Program
The F/A-XX falls under the US military’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
The aircraft is expected to provide carrier-based power projection and operate alongside crewed fighters like the F-35C, as well as with uncrewed platforms like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
While specific technical and program details are classified, the navy revealed in August that the F/A-XX is expected to carry Raytheon’s AIM-424 “Malice” long-range air-to-air missile.
The aircraft is scheduled to take to the skies by the 2030s.