Boeing wins the U.S. Navy's $20 billion F/A-XX development contract.

Reuters reported that Boeing beat Northrop Grumman for a $20 billion development contract covering test aircraft. Lockheed Martin had been eliminated from the competition in 2025, and Congress later provided $2.15 billion across two funding measures to keep the program moving.

The aircraft is expected to combine greater range, stealth and integration with uncrewed systems. First production jets are planned for the 2030s, while the Navy still expects to operate F-35Cs alongside F/A-XX and keep Super Hornets flying into the 2040s.