Several days after the United States Air Force publicly announced that Boeing has been selected to build its new crewed 6th-generation fighter, the F-47 'Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter', the U.S. Navy has now decided to reveal the winner of the F/A-XX program. This highly anticipated program is responsible for developing the next-generation fighter aircraft that will serve as the primary combat aircraft aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
The U.S. Navy is set to select a single winner for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the F/A-XX program. This next-generation fighter jet will play a crucial role in countering China's growing military presence in the Pacific and ensuring continued American air superiority in the event of any potential conflict in the region. Additionally, the aircraft is intended to serve as the long-term replacement for the ageing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet.
Furthermore, the new fighter jet will be required to incorporate cutting-edge stealth capabilities to evade advanced enemy radar systems, an extended operational range to enhance its flexibility across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean and seamless integration with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as well as aircraft carrier-based air defense systems
The competitors in the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX program include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman Corp. While Boeing secured victory in the U.S. Air Force’s 6th-generation fighter competition, it remains to be seen which company will emerge as the winner of the highly coveted F/A-XX program.