Navy picks Boeing over Northrop Grumman for the F/A-XX carrier fighter; development worth more than $20B

Boeing/F/A-XX

The Pentagon chose Boeing to develop the Navy's sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter, beating Northrop Grumman, with full-scale development valued above $20B. The jet replaces the Super Hornet and Growler from the 2030s. Boeing now holds both US sixth-generation fighter programs.

• Several test aircraft are planned for ground, airworthiness, systems and weapons testing.
• A separate airframe from the Air Force's F-47, with greater range than current carrier jets.
• The award followed a July 2025 stall, when the White House warned it could imperil the F-47.