The US Department of War has awarded Boeing a contract to develop the F/A-XX, the next-generation carrier-based strike fighter for the US Navy. This multi-billion dollar agreement covers the full-scale development phase, including the production of test aircraft for systems, weapons integration, and airworthiness trials.
Boeing beat out Northrop Grumman for the selection, following the elimination of Lockheed Martin from the competition in 2025. This win marks a major milestone for Boeing, as it now holds the development contracts for both the US Air Force F-47 and the Navy F/A-XX programs. Such a dual-platform hold has not occurred since the 1970s.
The F/A-XX is scheduled to begin replacing the current fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers starting in the 2030s. The new platform will operate alongside the F-35C and is expected to utilize advanced uncrewed aircraft teaming capabilities. Industry analysts suggest that Boeing may leverage shared stealth technologies and manufacturing processes developed for the F-47 to streamline production. Simultaneously, the Navy has initiated planning for the eventual closure of existing Super Hornet production lines.