A $20 Billion Deal.. Boeing Develops U.S. Navy Fighters

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The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Tuesday the selection of Boeing to develop the next generation of attack fighters for the U.S. Navy, under a contract worth $20 billion.

The Pentagon stated 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 also added that the new fighters will replace the current fleet of "Super Hornet" aircraft starting from the beginning of the next contract period.

For his part, Deputy Secretary of Defense Michael Duffy considered the "F/A-XX project 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.

In turn, Steve Parker, head of Boeing's Defense, Space & Security unit, said: "Developing two advanced fighters in parallel has always been part of our plan," indicating the company's readiness and ability to "develop multiple models of fighter aircraft simultaneously."

Boeing also indicated that construction is ongoing at its "safe manufacturing" facility in St. Louis, which it stated is the largest of its kind in the United States.

It also added that "the technical and regulatory 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, which said on Tuesday that it "offered the U.S. Navy, as part of 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 obtaining more information regarding the selection decision.

It is noteworthy that this is the second time the U.S. Department of Defense has chosen Boeing to develop a sixth-generation weapon system during President Donald Trump's second term, after it won a contract in March 2025 to develop a new stealth fighter.

Boeing's shares rose by 2.4% in after-hours trading, while Northrop Grumman's shares fell by 3.6%.