Washington, DC, Sept. 9 – The Pentagon has selected the winner of the US Navy next-generation fighter competition for the F/A-XX program and could announce the decision in the coming weeks or sooner. Boeing and Northrop Grumman compete for the stealth fighter contract expected to be worth tens of billions of dollars. This carrier-borne fighter jet forms the centerpiece of the Navy Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) family of systems intended to project power from aircraft carriers.
The F/A-XX program encountered delays and funding disputes for years as some Pentagon officials sought a three-year postponement citing engineering and supply chain capacity issues. Congress responded by earmarking seven hundred fifty million dollars in the 2025 tax-cut and spending bill plus one point four billion dollars more in fiscal 2026 to sustain momentum toward contract award.
China rapidly fields advanced combat aircraft, including sixth-generation designs, raising the stakes of any further delay that would leave the US Navy without a modern fighter for carrier operations in the 2030s and beyond. The next-generation stealth fighter will incorporate advanced stealth capabilities, improved range and endurance plus integration with uncrewed combat aircraft and Navy carrier-based air defense systems.
First production jets enter service in the 2030s while F/A-18 Super Hornets remain operational into the 2040s. A Pentagon spokesperson stated that work continues to award the F/A-XX contract in the near future, with no additional information available at this time.