Boeing Secures $20 Billion Contract for Next-Generation Stealth Fighter

Boeing has secured a massive contract worth over $20 billion to develop the F/A-XX, the US Navy's next-generation stealth fighter. This comes on top of the company's win last year for the F-47, the US Air Force's new fighter jet.

The F/A-XX is a sixth-generation fighter that will replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jet in the 2030s. It's designed to be nearly invisible to radar, with state-of-the-art sensors and the ability to fly alongside Lockheed Martin's F-35C on aircraft carriers.

According to the Navy, production capacity was a key factor in Boeing's win. The company is building the largest secure manufacturing facility in the US in St. Louis, where both the F-47 and F/A-XX will be built in parallel.

The contract award has been met with criticism from some quarters, who point to Boeing's history of booking billions of dollars in losses on fixed-price defense contracts.