Boeing to Build U.S. Navy's Sixth-Generation Fighter, Development Contract Exceeds $20 Billion

On September 29, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington that the U.S. Department of Defense announced on the 29th that it has selected Boeing to design and build the U.S. Navy's sixth-generation fighter, the F/A-XX.

The U.S. Department of Defense stated that the total value of the research and development contract for the sixth-generation fighter exceeds $20 billion, which includes the procurement of multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, system, and weapon integration testing. This fighter will provide advanced carrier-based power projection and expand the long-range strike capabilities of the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers.

The statement said that Boeing is expected to begin delivering the aircraft in the 2030s, ultimately replacing the current F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, and will operate in conjunction with the F-35C.

Boeing's press release stated that the F/A-XX will achieve revolutionary advancements in "open mission systems architecture, advanced mission systems, and operational range and capabilities."

This is Boeing's second contract for a sixth-generation fighter for the U.S. military, following the F-47. In March 2025, President Trump announced the selection of Boeing to produce the "Next Generation Air Dominance" fighter, naming the new generation fighter the F-47. U.S. media reported that the total value of the F-47 project reaches hundreds of billions of dollars.