The U.S. Navy is poised to announce the winner of its F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter program, potentially as early as this week, according to sources familiar with the matter. Northrop Grumman and Boeing are vying for the contract to design and build the aircraft that will eventually replace the F/A-18 Super Hornets and E/A-18 Growlers. The next-generation fighter is also intended to complement Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and a future Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the Navy’s future air wing.
Approval from the Top
Reuters initially reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved plans on Friday for the Navy to proceed with its competition. A Navy spokesperson deferred comment to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which did not respond to requests for comment.
A Highly Anticipated Decision
The competition for F/A-XX has been the subject of ongoing disputes among various entities within the White House, Pentagon, and Congress, particularly since the Air Force selected Boeing as the prime contractor for its future fighter, the F-47, in March.
Rumors of an Imminent Announcement
Sources told Breaking Defense that an announcement on the fighter contract was rumored to come as early as this past weekend, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s celebration of the Navy’s 250th birthday in Norfolk, Virginia. During the event, Trump and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle observed flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush.
What a Win Would Mean
For Boeing, winning the Navy contract would solidify its position as the Pentagon’s strike fighter contractor of choice for its sixth-generation jets, excluding Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman from both the Air Force and Navy Next Generation Air Dominance programs. It would also represent a significant turnaround for Boeing’s defense business, which has faced setbacks in recent years.
If Northrop Grumman were to win F/A-XX, it would mark the company’s return to prime contractor status on an American strike fighter for the first time since the F-14 Tomcat.
