The Pentagon is expected to announce as soon as this week which defense contractor will design and build the U.S. Navy’s next-generation stealth fighter, a multibillion-dollar project considered key to countering China’s expanding air capabilities.
- The F/A-XX program will replace the Navy’s aging fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, which entered service in the 1990s.
- Boeing Co. ($BA) and Northrop Grumman Corp. ($NOC) are competing for the contract.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved advancing the selection last week, though final confirmation could still face short delays.
- The program, delayed for months due to funding and engineering disputes, now has $750 million allocated under the latest spending bill, with an additional $1.4 billion earmarked for fiscal 2026.
- The F/A-XX is expected to feature advanced stealth, extended range, and the ability to integrate with unmanned systems.
- Lockheed Martin Corp. ($LMT), builder of the F-35, was eliminated from the competition earlier this year.
- First production jets are projected to enter service in the 2030s, while the F/A-18 fleet will remain active into the 2040s.
Relevant Companies
- Boeing ($BA) — Competing for the F/A-XX contract, which could be worth tens of billions of dollars.
- Northrop Grumman ($NOC) — Also bidding for the contract and could expand its role in next-generation U.S. defense aviation.
- Lockheed Martin ($LMT) — Excluded from the program but continues to supply F-35Cs for the Navy’s carrier fleet.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.
