Miles Jamison 
- Boeing was awarded an F/A-XX production contract under the Next Generation Air Dominance program
- The F/A-XX aircraft will replace the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fleet
- The F/A-XX program marks Boeing’s second sixth-generation fighter selection
Boeing has received a multibillion-dollar contract from the U.S. Navy to produce the F/A-XX aircraft, a sixth-generation fighter intended to replace the service’s fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornets, the company announced Tuesday.
The contract follows Boeing’s 2025 win on the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 program, making it the company’s second sixth-generation fighter selection.
The Department of War said the contract, awarded under the Next Generation Air Dominance program, is valued at more than $20 billion for the full-scale development phase. It covers multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness and integration testing.
What Is Boeing Building for the Navy?
Boeing said the aircraft will feature open mission systems architecture and advanced mission systems, along with greater operational reach and capacity. Technical and programmatic details of F/A-XX remain classified under U.S. national security and export laws.
The fighter will extend the range of Navy carriers through advanced carrier-based power projection and will be interoperable with manned and unmanned systems such as collaborative combat aircraft, according to the department.
What Are Officials Saying About F/A-XX?
Michael Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said the F/A-XX is critical to “maintaining peace through strength.” He added that the aircraft is expected to dominate contested airspace and deliver combat advantage.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao described the sixth-generation fighter as a “generational leap in air superiority.” Duffey and Cao are both 2026 Wash100 Award winners.
Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said delivering two advanced fighters in parallel was always the company’s plan, adding that Boeing made investments to support that approach.
How Is Boeing Preparing for Production?
Boeing is continuing construction of a secure manufacturing facility in St. Louis, Missouri, which will be part of an all-digital aerospace design and manufacturing system. Described as the largest of its kind in the U.S., the St. Louis site is intended to support multiple products with advanced capabilities.
What Is the Funding History of F/A-XX?
The Navy’s fiscal 2026 Unfunded Priorities List sought about $1.4 billion for F/A-XX to enable a contract award. Congress later provided $972 million in F/A-XX research and development funding in the fiscal 2026 defense appropriations bill.
