$20 Billion Contract Awarded to Boeing for Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Boeing a contract worth approximately $20 billion to develop the next-generation F/A-XX fighter aircraft, which will replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

This is not the first major contract for Boeing this year; in 2025, they were also selected to develop the sixth-generation F-47 fighter, beating out Lockheed Martin for that deal.

The new F/A-XX aircraft is expected to enter service in the 2030s and will provide greater range and survivability as the Pacific Ocean and Asia become the primary area of focus for the U.S. Navy.

While Boeing investors may be celebrating this contract, some analysts are questioning the expense and relevance of developing manned aircraft that would need to be based on aircraft carriers to project American influence.