Pentagon selects Boeing to supply U.S. Navy with attack fighters
Amman2 min read
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The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Tuesday the selection of Boeing to develop the next generation of U.S. Navy attack fighters, under a contract worth $20 billion.
The Pentagon explained in a statement that the company will produce under the new contract the "F/A-XX" fighter jets, also known as "attack fighters", as part of the "Next Generation Air Dominance" program. It added that the new fighters will replace the current Super Hornet fleet starting from the beginning of the next decade.
This is the second time the U.S. Department of Defense has selected Boeing to develop a sixth-generation weapon system during Trump's second term, after winning in March 2025 a contract to develop a new stealth fighter.
Steve Parker, President of Boeing's Defense, Space & Security unit, said, "Developing two advanced fighters in parallel has always been part of our plan," explaining the company's readiness and ability to "develop several models of fighter jets at the same time."
U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Michael Daffey considered the F/A-XX project to be a critical investment in U.S. national security and future air combat capabilities, noting that the Pentagon is working with Boeing to deploy and operate these capabilities.
Boeing explained that construction work is ongoing at its "Secure Manufacturing" facility in St. Louis, which it said is the largest of its kind in the United States.
The company added that "the technical and organizational details of the F/A-XX program remain classified under U.S. national security laws and export controls."
Boeing was competing for the contract with Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman said on Tuesday that it had "offered the U.S. Navy, under the F/A-XX program, a sixth-generation fighter with high survivability in combat environments and advanced digital technologies," adding that it looks forward to receiving more information on the selection decision.
Boeing shares rose 2.4% in after-hours trading, while Northrop Grumman shares fell 3.6%.
