# Navy Awards Boeing $20B F/A-XX Contract

On September 29, 2026, the U.S. Navy selected Boeing over Northrop Grumman for full-scale development of the F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier fighter, in an award valued at more than $20 billion. The work includes multiple test aircraft, and production is expected to center at Boeing’s expanded St. Louis facility. Technical and program details remain classified, and the signals identify no open solicitation or procurement contact.

- The award establishes Boeing as the program lead and creates potential downstream work in aircraft development, testing, and systems integration.
- Suppliers and prospective subcontractors can assess whether their capabilities and capacity align with Boeing’s planned St. Louis expansion and the program’s industrial-base needs; the signals do not identify an active opportunity to bid.
- Boeing’s concurrent F-47 work and the Navy’s stated concern about constrained defense-industrial capacity make production capacity and supply-chain readiness relevant considerations for industry planning.

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

### Government Entities
- U.S. Navy (USN)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

### Vendors
- Boeing (awardee)
- Northrop Grumman (bidder)

### Key Quotes
> I know these things are expensive, and I know the defense industrial base is compressed, but we have got to figure out how to walk and chew gum here with aircraft.
> — Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations

### Sources
- [F/A-XX has become one of the most hotly anticipated U.S. defense procurement decisions in recent memory after the Pentagon tried to shelve the program indefinitely last year.   
https://t.co/i6oQUFulX0](https://x.com/Rt2Box24/status/2105438053426929732) - twitter-defense
- [Pentagon Awards Boeing $20B Navy Contract

The Defense Department selected Boeing over Northrop Grumman this week for the sixth-generation carrier fighter program.

Read: https://t.co/TU0kACZIIY https://t.co/ZN6UC1AeyZ](https://x.com/RealTruth/status/2105690544634843339) - twitter-defense