Boeing Wins Navy F/A-XX Fighter as Northrop Grumman Loses Out
The US Navy has selected Boeing to build its next-generation F/A-XX carrier fighter, awarding the company a development contract valued at about $20 billion. The award was made on September 29, 2026, according to Defense News. Northrop Grumman lost the competition.
The full-scale development phase includes multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, systems and weapons integration testing. The Navy intends the new fighter to begin replacing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers in the 2030s.
Boeing F/A-XX Award Details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Customer | US Navy |
| Contractor | Boeing |
| Value | About $20 billion for full-scale development |
| Scope | Development of the F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier fighter, with multiple test aircraft |
| Aircraft to be replaced | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler |
| Losing bidder | Northrop Grumman |
| Awarded | September 29, 2026 |
Acting Secretary Cao, quoted by Defense News, called the sixth-generation fighter “a generational leap in air superiority.” Steve Parker of Boeing Defense, Space & Security said, “It’s an honor to be selected to produce the Navy’s first sixth-generation platform.”
The Navy has said the aircraft will have extended range for carrier-based power projection and will work with both crewed and uncrewed aircraft, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
What the Navy Has Not Said
Defense News reports that the aircraft still has no official designation, that production quantities have not been disclosed and that detailed specifications are not public. The ground, airworthiness, systems and weapons testing described in the contract points to a long development phase before any carrier deployment.
The award also leaves Northrop Grumman without a sixth-generation fighter on either US service competition. That is a reading of the two outcomes, not a company statement.
Boeing Now Holds Both Sixth-Generation Fighters
Boeing won the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance competition in 2025 with the F-47, which has entered engineering and manufacturing development. First flight is expected as early as 2028, and the Air Force plans to buy at least 185 F-47s to replace F-22 Raptors.
| Item | F-47 (Air Force) | F/A-XX (Navy) |
|---|---|---|
| Service | US Air Force | US Navy |
| Role | Air superiority, replacing the F-22 | Carrier-based fighter, replacing Super Hornet and Growler |
| Status | Engineering and manufacturing development; first flight as early as 2028 | Full-scale development contract awarded September 29, 2026 |
| Quantity | At least 185 planned | Not disclosed |
Boeing Company Profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Arlington, Virginia |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Segments | Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services |
| Known defense programmes | F-47, F/A-XX, F-15EX, KC-46, AH-64 Apache, PAC-3 seekers |
F/A-XX FAQ
Who won the F/A-XX contract?
Boeing, awarded on September 29, 2026.
How much is the contract worth?
About $20 billion for the full-scale development phase, according to Defense News.
Who lost?
Northrop Grumman.
What will F/A-XX replace?
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, beginning in the 2030s.
Is F/A-XX the same as the F-47?
No. The F-47 is the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter. F/A-XX is the Navy’s carrier-based programme. Boeing leads both.
- Defense News – “US Navy selects Boeing to build next-generation F/A-XX fighter” (September 29, 2026): defensenews.com
- Wikipedia – Boeing; Boeing F-47 (company and programme data)
