The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced Tuesday that it had selected Boeing to develop the next generation of strike fighters for the US Navy under a contract valued at $20 billion.
The Pentagon said in a statement that Boeing will produce F/A-XX fighter aircraft, also known as “strike fighters,” under the Next Generation Air Dominance program. The new aircraft will replace the Navy’s existing Super Hornet fleet beginning early next decade.
This marks the second time the Pentagon has selected Boeing to develop a sixth-generation weapons system during President Donald Trump’s second term. In March 2025, Boeing won a contract to develop a new stealth fighter.
“Developing two advanced fighters in parallel has always been part of our plan,” said Steve Parker, president of Boeing’s defense, space and security division, adding that the company is prepared and capable of “developing multiple fighter aircraft variants simultaneously.”
US Deputy Secretary of Defense Michael Duffey described the F/A-XX project as “a critical investment in US national security and future air combat capabilities,” adding that the Pentagon is working with Boeing to deploy and operate the new capabilities.
Boeing said construction is continuing at its “secure manufacturing” facility in St. Louis, which it described as the largest of its kind in the United States.
The company added that “technical and program details related to the F/A-XX program remain classified under US national security laws and export controls.”
Boeing had been competing for the contract against Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman said Tuesday that, under the F/A-XX program, it had offered the US Navy a sixth-generation fighter with high survivability in combat environments and advanced digital technologies. The company added that it looked forward to receiving further information about the selection decision.
Boeing shares rose 2.4% in after-hours trading, while Northrop Grumman shares fell 3.6%.
Source: Reuters
