Boeing Takes Control of Next-Generation US Navy Fighter Development
Boeing has emerged as the winner of the F/A-XX competition for the US Navy's next fighter, beating out Northrop Grumman in a surprise decision. The Seattle-based company will develop its next carrier-based fighter under the F/A-XX program, replacing the SUPER HORNET and GROWLER, which operate alongside the F-35C.
The $20 billion initial contract awarded to Boeing covers development and prototype production for the test phase. This marks a significant turning point in the US defense industrial base, as Boeing now dominates both next-generation fighter competitions, having already won the US Air Force's 6th-generation fighter contract with the F-47 under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
The decision has left Lockheed Martin with only the F-35, while Northrop Grumman will focus on specialized bomber production. The concentration of 6th-generation fighter production in a single industrial hub leaves competitors with limited opportunities, particularly in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) segment, where General Atomics and Anduril currently dominate.