# Navy Awards Boeing F/A-XX Development Contract

On September 29, 2026, the U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a contract worth **more than $20 billion** for full-scale development of the F/A-XX, a sixth-generation carrier-based strike fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance program. The effort includes multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, systems, and weapons integration testing. The aircraft is expected to begin augmenting and eventually replacing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers in the 2030s, while operating alongside the F-35C and interoperating with manned and unmanned aircraft.

- The award establishes Boeing as the development awardee for a major naval aviation program; the signals do not provide a contract number or identify a current solicitation for additional work.
- Defense suppliers can assess whether their capabilities align with the stated test, airworthiness, systems, and weapons-integration work, while recognizing that the signals do not specify subcontract opportunities.
- The 2030s transition horizon gives contractors and suppliers context for longer-term planning around carrier aviation and compatibility with existing and unmanned aircraft.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** October 01, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Navy (USN)
- U.S. Department of War (DoW)

### Vendors
- Boeing (Awardee)

### Key Quotes
> The Sixth-Generation fighter is a generational leap in air superiority and will provide the world's best aviators with unparalleled capabilities to fight, win, and come home safe.
> — Hung Cao, Acting Secretary of the Navy

### Sources
- [Courtney Statement on New Navy Contract Award for F/A-XX Program | Congressman Joe Courtney](https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-new-navy-contract-award-fa-xx-program) - Courtney
- [
	Department of War and U.S. Navy Award Contract for F/A-XX Program > U.S. Department of War > Release | U.S. Department of War
](https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4614331/department-of-war-and-us-navy-award-contract-for-fa-xx-program/) - Courtney