US Navy Nears Final Decision on Next-Gen Stealth Fighter

The US Navy is poised to make a final decision on which company will build its sixth-generation stealth fighter, the F/A-XX. Boeing and Northrop Grumman are competing for the contract, with Lockheed Martin being eliminated from the bidding process last year due to failing to meet the Navy's standards.

The F/A-XX is expected to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as the Navy's primary carrier-based warplane and will feature greater range, stealth, and sensing capabilities than current fighters. The program has seen significant delays and budget constraints, but Congress has now appropriated $972 million for its research and development phase.

Northrop Grumman has opened a new engineering facility to prepare for the competition's next phase, while Boeing is favored by some due to its capacity to meet the Navy's needs. The F/A-XX is expected to enter service in the 2030s, gradually replacing the Super Hornets.