Pentagon Nears Choice Between Boeing and Northrop Grumman for New Navy Stealth Fighter

The Department of Defense is poised to award the contract for the F/A-XX stealth fighter, the Navy's future carrier-based aircraft, to either Boeing or Northrop Grumman, with a decision likely in the coming weeks. The program, which aims to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, has been delayed for years due to funding disputes, but Congress intervened by allocating $750 million in a 2025 tax-cut and spending bill and $1.4 billion for FY-2026.

The selected jet is expected to achieve service entry in the 2030s, offering enhanced stealth, greater endurance and the ability to work alongside unmanned combat aircraft and carrier air-defence systems. The urgency stems from China's rapid deployment of advanced, reportedly sixth-generation, combat aircraft, raising concerns that further delays could erode the Navy's ability to operate in contested environments. The contract is projected to be worth tens of billions of dollars over its lifecycle, making it a pivotal acquisition for U.S. naval aviation. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed ongoing work on the award but offered no additional details.