- Boeing has been selected to develop the US Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX fighter in a development deal worth more than $20 billion, adding another major military aircraft program to the company’s defense portfolio.
Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) has won the US Navy competition to develop its next-generation carrier-based fighter, according to the Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The F/A-XX development contract is worth more than $20 billion, covering the full-scale development phase of the aircraft, including test and evaluation work.
The fighter is being designed to replace the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet beginning in the 2030s. The new aircraft is also expected to operate alongside the F-35C and work with unmanned systems. Boeing said the program will use an open mission-systems architecture intended to support future upgrades and integration of new technologies.
The selection gives Boeing another major next-generation fighter program at a time when the company is working to expand its defense operations.
F/A-XX Will Replace the Navy’s Super Hornet
The F/A-XX is intended to provide the Navy with a longer-range carrier-based aircraft as the service prepares for combat environments in which aircraft may need to operate farther from carrier strike groups.
The program will eventually replace the Super Hornet, which remains a central aircraft in the Navy’s carrier air wings. Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet program has supplied the Navy with a multirole fighter capable of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and other missions.
The new aircraft is expected to incorporate greater range, stealth and advanced mission systems, while also connecting with unmanned aircraft as part of a broader networked combat architecture. The Navy’s next-generation fighter program has been in development for years as military planners assess how carrier aviation must operate against increasingly sophisticated air-defense systems.
Boeing’s victory also gives the company responsibility for two major US sixth-generation tactical fighter programs. In March 2025, the Air Force selected Boeing to develop the F-47, the service’s next-generation air-superiority fighter under its Next Generation Air Dominance program.
The two programs are separate, but both are intended to replace aging aircraft and introduce new generations of sensors, weapons, networking, and autonomous capabilities.
The latest award is also significant for Boeing’s manufacturing operations. The company has invested in advanced production infrastructure in St. Louis to support future military aircraft programs. The full technical details of the F/A-XX remain classified, meaning many of the aircraft’s specifications and capabilities have not been publicly disclosed.
Boeing Defense Adds Major Program as Shares Respond
The F/A-XX award gives Boeing a large development program, but the more than $20 billion figure covers the development phase, not the full lifetime value of the fighter fleet. Future production contracts would be negotiated separately as the Navy determines how many aircraft it requires and the pace at which they are purchased.
The program also comes as Boeing continues to manage financial pressure across its defense and space business. Fixed-price contracts on major programs have resulted in significant charges in recent years, making program execution an important factor in the division’s financial performance.
For Boeing shareholders, the F/A-XX award provides a new source of future defense work, although its financial contribution will develop over several years as the aircraft progresses through testing and production.
The Navy is expected to continue testing and development work before the fighter enters operational service in the 2030s. The contract also comes as Boeing manages challenges in its commercial-aircraft business. The company has recently faced scrutiny over software and operational issues involving the 737 MAX, while defense remains an important part of its overall business mix.
The Boeing defense portfolio now includes the F/A-XX and F-47 alongside established aircraft and other military programs. The latest selection therefore marks a significant development for Boeing’s defense business, giving the company the US Navy’s next-generation carrier fighter while expanding its position in future combat-aircraft programs.
The immediate milestones to watch are contract execution, prototype development, flight testing and the Navy’s future production decisions.