Boeing has been selected to build the Navy’s sixth generation carrier based strike fighter, handing the aerospace company a major victory in the race to shape future American airpower. The decision leaves Northrop Grumman, considered Boeing’s biggest competitor during late stage negotiations, on the sidelines.

The $20 billion contract covers the full scale development phase of the F/A-XX program. According to a Pentagon release, the contract “procures multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, systems, and weapons integration testing.”

Michael P. Duffey, under secretary of war for Acquisition and Sustainment, described the aircraft as central to the military’s combat strategy. “The F/A-XX is a critical pillar in our commitment to maintaining peace through strength,” Duffey said in the release.

Duffey said the aircraft would give American forces a potent edge in dangerous skies. “F/A-XX will dominate contested airspace, extend operational reach, and deliver a decisive combat advantage for the warfighter.”

Boeing has promised extended range for the F/A-XX, giving the Navy greater power projection from American carriers. The aircraft is also expected to operate with both manned and unmanned platforms, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao called the selection a transformational moment for naval aviation. “This achievement marks a new era for the U.S. Navy,” Cao said.

“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.”

The contract marks another major victory for Boeing and all but guarantees the company a monopoly on sixth generation fighter development across the military services. Boeing already secured the Air Force’s corresponding next generation fighter program.

In 2025, Boeing defeated Lockheed Martin for the contract to build the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter through the Next Generation Air Dominance program, also known as NGAD. That aircraft has since been designated the F-47.

A service official announced in July that the F-47 had entered its engineering and manufacturing development phase. The aircraft’s first flights are expected as early as 2028, according to the timeline provided in the source announcement.

The Air Force also announced plans to purchase at least 185 of the advanced fighters. That planned fleet is designed to replace the service’s F-22 Raptor inventory.

The Navy’s F/A-XX program has not yet received an official designation. It has faced years of funding disputes, while engineering and supply chain concerns prompted some Pentagon officials to advocate delaying the program.

Despite those disputes, the carrier based fighter is slated to anchor the Navy’s next generation fighter fleet. It is expected to operate alongside the F-35 while beginning to replace aging F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers during the 2030s.

Steve Parker, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, praised the Navy’s decision. “It’s an honor to be selected to produce the Navy’s first sixth - generation platform,” Parker said in Boeing’s release announcing the deal.

“Backed by decades of work, bolstered by game-changing innovations and solidified by the investments we’ve made in new facilities uniquely suited to build multiple products with next-generation capabilities, our dedicated and talented team is ready to execute this critical program.”

The selection gives Boeing responsibility for developing the future fighter intended to lead Navy carrier aviation into the 2030s. With F/A-XX and F-47 development moving forward, Boeing has secured the central role in both services’ sixth generation fighter efforts.