Former Navy commander on revitalizing US shipbuilding amid challenges
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The U.S. Navy has tapped Boeing to build a new fighter jet that officials say will help American pilots dominate the skies, defeat enemies and come home safely.
The Department of War announced Tuesday that Boeing secured a contract worth more than $20 billion for full-scale development of the F/A-XX, a sixth-generation strike fighter intended to expand the reach of Navy aircraft carriers and eventually replace some of the service’s longtime combat aircraft.
The deal gives Boeing its second sixth-generation fighter program following its selection for the Air Force’s F-47 in 2025, the company said.
“Delivering two advanced fighters in parallel was always our plan, and we invested accordingly. We are ready and able to build multiple concurrent future combat aircraft franchise programs,” Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said in a statement.
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An artist’s rendering depicts Boeing’s F/A-XX fighter on an aircraft carrier. The Navy awarded Boeing a contract worth more than $20 billion to develop the sixth-generation aircraft. (Boeing)
The Navy contract includes multiple test aircraft for ground testing, airworthiness evaluations and systems and weapons integration, according to the Department of War.
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Sailors aboard the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), launch a Carrier Air Wing 8 F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 31 from the flight deck, Sept. 26, 2025. (Mariano Lopez)
“The F/A-XX is a critical pillar in our commitment to maintaining peace through strength. F/A-XX will dominate contested airspace, extend operational reach, and deliver a decisive combat advantage for the warfighter,” Michael P. Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said in the announcement.
Duffey called the aircraft a “crucial, non-negotiable investment” in America’s national security and long-term air combat capabilities.
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Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the flight deck of the U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury, from an undisclosed location on March 3, 2026. (U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters)
“We are joining forces with Boeing to field these capabilities rapidly, ensuring our warfighters possess the lethal and highly networked systems required to deter aggression, project undisputed power, and secure absolute air superiority,” he said.
The F/A-XX falls under the Next Generation Air Dominance program. The department said the carrier-based fighter will extend the Navy’s operational reach and work alongside both manned and unmanned aircraft, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
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Officials said the fighter will also increase the capability of the unmanned aircraft it teams with.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao hailed the contract as the beginning of “a new era” for the service.
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A graphical artist’s rendering shows the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter, the F-47, which will be built by Boeing. (U.S. Air Force graphic)
“The Sixth-Generation fighter is a generational leap in air superiority and will provide the world’s best aviators with unparalleled capabilities to fight, win, and come home safe,” Cao said.
“We are excited to partner with Boeing, and for our warfighters to continue to dominate the skies and defeat our nation’s enemies.”
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Boeing said the aircraft will bring advances in mission systems and operational reach and capacity, though technical and program details remain classified under U.S. national security and export laws.
“It’s an honor to be selected to produce the Navy’s first sixth-generation platform,” Parker said, adding that the company’s team is “ready to execute this critical program.”
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F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets on the flight deck the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) aircraft carrier during operations in the southern Red Sea on March 19, 2024. (Christopher Pike/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The company said construction continues on a secure manufacturing facility in St. Louis as it prepares to build multiple aircraft with next-generation capabilities.
“Investment in facilities is just one part of the story; we’re also investing in technology and people so that we can deliver for our customers,” Parker said.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe celebrated the announcement, pointing to the state’s role in building America’s next generation of military aircraft.
“St. Louis is Fighterland, USA!” Kehoe wrote on X. “Proud of this incredible win that further cements Missouri as a critical leader in the future of America’s air dominance, innovation, and national defense.”
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Beginning in the 2030s, the F/A-XX is expected to augment and eventually replace legacy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, according to the Department of War. It will also operate alongside the F-35C.
