U.S Navy Awards $20 Billion Contract For New Sixth-Generation Fighter To Replace Super Hornet Fleet

Boeing has won a $20 billion contract to build the US Navy’s new F/A-XX fighter.

The sixth-generation aircraft is being developed to replace the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fleet from the 2030s. It will be a carrier-based fighter and is also expected to work with unmanned aircraft.

The Pentagon announced the contract on Tuesday. Boeing was competing against Northrop Grumman for the programme.

The new fighter is being developed to give US naval aviation greater reach and improve the ability of its aircraft to operate in difficult conditions.

The Navy said the F/A-XX will have an open mission systems architecture, advanced mission systems, greater operational reach and increased capacity.

The open architecture will allow the aircraft’s systems to be changed and updated as new technology and mission requirements develop.

“It’s an honour to be selected to produce the Navy’s first sixth-generation platform,” Steve Parker, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defence, Space & Security, said.

Parker said Boeing had spent years working on new technologies and investing in facilities for next-generation aircraft.

The F/A-XX is Boeing’s second major US sixth-generation fighter programme.

In 2025, Boeing was selected to develop the US Air Force’s F-47 under the Next Generation Air Dominance programme.

The two aircraft are being developed for different services. The F/A-XX is for the Navy and will operate from aircraft carriers, while the F-47 is being developed for the Air Force.

The Navy expects the F/A-XX to work with unmanned systems as it develops its next generation of carrier aircraft.

Boeing also released a new image of the F/A-XX with the announcement. The design shows a tailless aircraft with a blended shape and stealth features covering all sides of the aircraft.

Other countries are also working on their own sixth-generation fighter programmes.

The United Kingdom, Japan and Italy are working together on the Global Combat Air Programme, or GCAP.

France is leading the Future Combat Air System, or FCAS. Spain remains part of the programme after Germany left it.

India is engaging with both programmes. It is also planning to produce fifth- and sixth-generation fighters domestically.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said India plans to produce both types of fighters.

Earlier this month, the defence ministry told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that India had started efforts to join the French-led FCAS programme.

FCAS is expected to make its first flight around 2028-29. India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is also planned to make its first flight around the same period.

The supplied material says disagreements over aircraft carrier operations and nuclear delivery capabilities contributed to Germany leaving FCAS.

India already has both capabilities, according to the material provided, and is now seeking to work with the French-led programme.

References: interestingengineering, TOI