DoD, US Navy award USD20 billion contract to Boeing for F/A-XX programme

Boeing F/A-XX concept replacement for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (Boeing)

The US Department of Defense (DoD) and US Navy (USN) announced on 29 September that Boeing has been awarded a contract “valued at more than” USD20 billion for the USN's sixth-generation F/A-XX Strike Fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme.

DoD said the contract is for the full-scale development phase, procuring “multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, systems, and weapons integration testing”.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said the contract represents a “new era” for the USN, as carrier-based sixth-generation fighter will be “a generational leap in air superiority” and provide new capabilities as it aims to be interoperable with unmanned platforms such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

Steve Parker, president and chief executive officer, Boeing Defense, Space & Security said in a company statement that the company's efforts were “solidified by the investments we've made in new facilities uniquely suited to build multiple products with next generation capabilities”. The company is building a secure manufacturing facility in St Louis that will be part of its “all-digital aerospace design and manufacturing system”, Boeing said.

The contract becomes Boeing's second selection for sixth-generation fighter construction after a US Air Force award for the F-47 programme in 2025.

Funding for the F/A-XX has fluctuated as the USN has deliberated on whether to develop a separate airframe for its next-generation fighter or leverage the development of the US Air Force F-47 programme.