WASHINGTON — Boeing has been selected to build the U.S. Navy’s next-generation stealth fighter, the Pentagon announced Tuesday, awarding the company a development contract worth $20 billion after months of delay, according to Reuters.
Boeing beat out rival Northrop Grumman for the contract to produce test aircraft for the F/A-XX program, which is designed to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as the centerpiece of the Navy’s future carrier air wing. The program could grow to hundreds of billions of dollars over its lifetime as production ramps up and international customers place orders.
The win marks Boeing’s second consecutive major fighter contract, following its selection in March last year to build the Air Force’s new F-47 stealth fighter. Together, the two awards make Boeing the sole builder of America’s crewed sixth-generation fighters and cap a program the Pentagon considers central to U.S. strategy for countering China in the Pacific.
Boeing was viewed as a strong contender because of its long history building carrier-based fighters, including the Super Hornet the new jet is designed to replace. That pedigree helped offset defense officials’ questions about whether the company could field enough engineers and suppliers to execute both the F-47 and the Navy fighter at the same time.
The contract is a significant boost for Boeing’s fighter production operations in St. Louis, Missouri, where the company is shutting down the Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler production lines. Boeing shares rose 2.25% in extended trading on Tuesday, while Northrop shares fell 3.5%.
“It’s an honor to be selected to produce the Navy’s first sixth-generation platform,” Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said in a statement, adding that the company’s team “is ready to execute this critical program.” Technical and programmatic details of the aircraft remain classified.