U.S. Navy awards Boeing over $20B contract for F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier fighter

The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a contract valued at more than $20 billion to develop its new carrier-based sixth-generation fighter, designated the F/A-XX. Boeing is also building the Air Force's sixth-generation F-47.

Official Statements

"The F/A-XX is a critical pillar in our commitment to maintaining peace through strength," said Michael P. Duffey, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, in a Sept. 29 Pentagon release. "F/A-XX will dominate contested airspace, extend operational reach, and deliver a decisive combat advantage for the warfighter. The F/A-XX platform represents a crucial, non-negotiable investment in America's national security and long-term air combat capabilities."

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao added: "This achievement marks a new era for the U.S. Navy. The sixth-generation fighter is a generational leap in air superiority and will provide the world's best aviators with unparalleled capabilities to fight, win, and come home safe. We are excited to partner with Boeing, and for our warfighters to continue to dominate the skies and defeat our nation's enemies."

Timeline and Role

According to the Pentagon release, the F/A-XX will first augment and eventually replace older F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, beginning in the 2030s. It will operate alongside the carrier-based F-35C Joint Strike Fighters, which are flown by both the Navy and Marine Corps.

Industry Impact

The selection ensures Boeing will produce two of the three sixth-generation aircraft in development for the U.S. military. The firm won the contract for the Air Force's sixth-gen fighter program in March 2025 with the F-47.

The decision represents a loss for Northrop Grumman, the only other company remaining in the competition for the Navy's Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter. Northrop Grumman is the manufacturer of the Air Force's B-21 Raider.

Key Capabilities

The Pentagon release stated that the F/A-XX will be able to fly alongside and control semi-autonomous Navy drones known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Advanced stealth is also considered a key attribute of sixth-generation aircraft.

"We are joining forces with Boeing to field these capabilities rapidly, ensuring our warfighters possess the lethal and highly networked systems required to deter aggression, project undisputed power, and secure absolute air superiority," Duffey said.

Potential as Final Manned Fighter

Now-retired Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly, former director of the Navy's air warfare division, said at an April 2025 conference that the F/A-XX could be the Navy's last manned fighter.

"It could be our last tactical manned fighter that we operate out of the Navy," Donnelly said at the Navy League's Sea Air Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland. "It will actually be at a point where we are more man-on-the-loop than man-in-the-loop, and be the bridge to fully integrating towards the hybrid air wing [combining piloted aircraft and unmanned platforms] in the future, in the 2040s."

Extended Range

Donnelly told reporters at that conference that the F/A-XX would likely be able to fly more than 25 percent farther than current Navy fighters before needing refueling.

• The F/A-18 Super Hornet has a combat range of approximately 1,275 nautical miles.
• The F-35C Joint Strike Fighter has a combat range of more than 1,200 nautical miles.

"That's a core attribute of the F/A-XX," Donnelly said in 2025. "It will definitely have longer inherent range, and then with refueling, you could say that's indefinite, as long as refueling is available."

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