The Navy has awarded a more than $20 billion contract to Boeing to develop its sixth-generation carrier-based strike fighter jet, dubbed the F/A-XX, Pentagon officials said.
The F/A-XX will dominate contested airspace and deliver a “decisive combat advantage” for the Navy, said Michael P. Duffey, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment.
“The F/A-XX platform represents a crucial, nonnegotiable investment in America’s national security and long-term air combat capabilities,” Mr. Duffey said Tuesday.
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“We are joining forces with Boeing to field these capabilities rapidly, ensuring our warfighters possess the lethal and highly networked systems required to deter aggression, project undisputed power, and secure absolute air superiority,” he said.
The F/A-XX will provide the Navy with power projection capabilities to extend the range of U.S. aircraft carriers, officials said. The system will be interoperable with other manned aircraft as well as drones.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the F/A-XX contract marks a new era for the Navy.
“The sixth-generation fighter is a generational leap in air superiority and will provide the world’s best aviators with unparalleled capabilities to fight, win, and come home safe,” Mr. Cao said.
The F/A-XX will initially augment and eventually replace legacy combat aircraft, such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growlers, starting in the 2030s, Navy officials said.
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