The Pentagon is poised to select a defense contractor this week to design and build the U.S. Navy’s next-generation stealth fighter, known as the F/A-XX, following months of delays.
The multibillion-dollar project, critical for countering China, will replace the Navy’s aging F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet, in service since the 1990s.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth finalized the decision to proceed with the selection on Friday, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The F/A-XX program faced significant hurdles, including a funding dispute between the Pentagon and Congress.
The Pentagon initially requested $74 million to sustain minimal development, with some officials advocating a delay of up to three years due to concerns over engineering and supply chain capacity.
Congress, however, prioritized accelerating the program, allocating $750 billion in a tax-cut and spending bill signed into law this summer, with an additional $1.4 billion earmarked for fiscal 2026.
Despite this, past delays raise concerns about potential last-minute setbacks.
Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. are competing to secure the contract for the F/A-XX, which will feature advanced stealth, extended range, and integration with uncrewed aircraft and carrier-based air defense systems.
Questions arose about Boeing’s engineering capacity following its March contract for the Air Force’s F-47 jet and Northrop’s ability to manage costs amid its Sentinel missile program.
The F/A-XX is vital for maintaining naval aviation’s power projection in the 2030s, as delays could leave the Navy without a modern carrier-capable fighter.
The program’s exact value and timelines remain classified, but similar contracts, like the F-35, have reached tens of billions over their lifespan.