Boeing Wins $20 Billion Navy F/A-XX Stealth Fighter Contract

Boeing has been selected to develop the US Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX stealth fighter, securing a $20 billion contract and its second major sixth-generation fighter program in consecutive years.

The Pentagon announced the decision Tuesday, with Boeing beating Northrop Grumman for the development contract, which will initially fund test aircraft. The F/A-XX program could ultimately be worth hundreds of billions of dollars as production expands and potential international orders emerge.

The victory follows Boeing’s selection last year to build the US Air Force’s F-47 stealth fighter. Boeing’s experience producing carrier-based aircraft, including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, strengthened its position despite concerns over whether its engineering workforce and supplier network could handle two advanced fighter programs simultaneously.

Boeing shares rose 2.25% in extended trading following the announcement, while Northrop Grumman fell 3.5%.

The contract also provides a major boost to Boeing’s defense operations in St. Louis, Missouri, as production of the Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler winds down. Boeing Defense, Space & Security CEO Steve Parker said investments in new facilities have prepared the company to manufacture multiple next-generation platforms.

F/A-XX will serve as a centerpiece of the Navy’s Next Generation Air Dominance family of systems. The aircraft is expected to offer advanced stealth, greater range and endurance, and integration with uncrewed combat aircraft and carrier-based air defense systems.

The program has faced years of funding disputes and delays amid Pentagon concerns about engineering and supply-chain capacity. Congress intervened with $750 million in funding under a 2025 spending law and another $1.4 billion for fiscal 2026.

Lockheed Martin was eliminated from the competition in March 2025 after its design failed to meet Navy requirements, leaving Boeing and Northrop as finalists.

The Navy plans to field its first production F/A-XX aircraft during the 2030s. The new fighter will operate alongside more than 270 planned F-35C jets and eventually replace the aging Super Hornet fleet, which is expected to remain operational into the 2040s.