The US Navy has selected Boeing to develop its sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter following months of delays in the programme’s contractor selection process.
Under a contract valued at more than $20 billion, Boeing will lead the aircraft’s full-scale development, advancing the next-generation platform intended to replace the ageing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets.
By securing the F/A-XX programme after defeating Northrop Grumman in the competition, Boeing now holds both of the US military’s sixth-generation fighter development contracts, having previously been selected for the F-47 programme in March 2025.
F/A-XX Programme and Operational Role
The F/A-XX is being developed under the US military’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative. Designed for carrier-based operations, the aircraft is expected to enhance the US Navy’s power-projection capabilities and operate alongside crewed platforms such as the F-35C Lightning II and uncrewed systems, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
Although detailed technical specifications and programme information remain classified, the Navy disclosed in August that the F/A-XX is expected to carry Raytheon’s AIM-424 “Malice” long-range air-to-air missile.
The aircraft is being developed to support future carrier air wings through advanced combat capabilities and integration with crewed and uncrewed platforms. Its first flight is anticipated during the 2030s, marking a significant milestone in the modernisation of the US Navy’s carrier-based aviation fleet.
