Pentagon picks Boeing to build new carrier fighter jet to replace F/A-18

The Pentagon has awarded Boeing a contract worth US$20 billion to develop the Navy's next-generation fighter jets, known as F/A-XX or "strike fighters." This contract, under the "Next Generation Air Dominance Program," is intended to replace the aging "Super Hornets" fleet in the 2030s. This marks Boeing's second selection by the Pentagon for a sixth-generation weapons system this administration.

In March 2025, Boeing was chosen by the Air Force to build a new stealth fighter. Steve Parker, head of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, stated that the F/A-XX platform is a vital investment in America's national security and air combat capabilities. Pentagon undersecretary Michael Duffey emphasized the importance of this joint effort with Boeing to deliver these capabilities.

Boeing's St. Louis manufacturing facility, the largest of its kind in the United States, will continue construction. The technical and programmatic details of the F/A-XX remain classified due to US national security and export laws. Boeing was competing for the contract with Northrop Grumman, who offered a highly survivable, digitally advanced sixth-generation fighter.

Admiral Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, stated that the next-generation system must extend reach, survivability, and lethality, working with unmanned systems. Failure to field this capability on schedule could introduce risks to air superiority, strike reach, and carrier-based operations in contested environments. The news sent Boeing's shares up 2.4 percent in after-hours trading, while Northrop Grumman dropped 3.6 percent.