Boeing Lands Huge Contract for Next-Gen Navy Fighter

The United States Navy has awarded Boeing a contract worth more than $20 billion to develop the F/A-XX, a sixth-generation strike fighter. The announcement was made jointly by the Department of War and Boeing on Wednesday. This marks a significant milestone in the development of a new generation of aircraft for the US military.

The F/A-XX is designed to replace the Navy's current F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers in the 2030s. It must be capable of operating with advanced survivability, have an operational range increase of at least 25% over the legacy aircraft, operate with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), and feature an Open Mission Systems (OMS) format.

Boeing will work jointly on the F/A-XX and the F-47, which Boeing was awarded last year. The company is completing construction of its secure manufacturing facility in St. Louis, which features an all-digital aerospace design and manufacturing system.