Boeing Lands $20 Billion Navy Stealth Fighter Contract

Boeing has won a major contract worth around $20 billion to build the US Navy's next-generation stealth fighter, known as F/A-XX. The company will replace the current F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft with this new design, which is expected to feature advanced stealth capabilities, greater range and endurance, and the ability to operate alongside unmanned combat aircraft and carrier-based air defense systems.

The contract marks a significant boost for Boeing's fighter operations in St. Louis, Missouri, where production of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler is winding down. The company has invested in new facilities designed to produce multiple next-generation systems, which it will use to develop both the F-47 and F/A-XX aircraft.

The program has faced delays and funding disputes in the past, but lawmakers from Missouri pushed to keep it funded, citing the potential for job creation and economic growth. The contract is expected to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars as production expands and potential foreign orders are added.