US EditionDefence chief Hegseth has cleared US Navy’s next-generation fighter, sources say
The Pentagon will choose between Boeing and Northrop Grumman to build a multibillion-dollar stealth fighter aimed at countering China’s military advances in the Indo-Pacific.
- After months of delay, the Pentagon will select the F/A-XX contractor as soon as this week after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved advancing the program on Oct 3.
- Earlier this year, a funding dispute between Congress and the Pentagon delayed the programme, though lawmakers allocated $750 million and earmarked $1.4 billion for fiscal 2026.
- Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp are the remaining contenders for the F/A-XX program after Lockheed Martin was ejected earlier this year for failing to meet criteria.
- The first production jets are slated for the 2030s while F/A-18E/F Super Hornets may persist into the 2040s, and delays risk leaving the U.S. Navy without a modern carrier fighter in that decade.
- Expected features include advanced stealth, integration with uncrewed combat aircraft, a range around 2,000 miles, and many program specifics remain classified.
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Exclusive: Pentagon's Hegseth okays US Navy next-generation fighter, sources say
After months of delay, the Pentagon will select as soon as this week the defense company to design and build the Navy's next stealth fighter, a U.S. official and two people familiar with the decision said, in what will be a multibillion-dollar effort for a jet seen as central to U.S. efforts to counter China.
The U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX Is the ‘Must Do’ Stealth Fighter
Key Points and Summary – The Navy’s future air wing faces a capacity and range crunch: just 273 F-35Cs across a large carrier fleet, and Super Hornets already beyond intended service lives. Enter F/A-XX, a sixth-generation, carrier-launched stealth fighter aimed at restoring deterrence against China’s growing J-20 fleet, emerging J-35 carrier stealth jet, and rumored sixth-gen designs. Beyond stealth and sensors, the pivotal edge is range—potent…
Defence chief Hegseth has cleared US Navy’s next-generation fighter, sources say
After months of delay, the Pentagon will select as soon as this week the defence company to design and build the Navy’s next stealth fighter seen as central to US efforts to counter China, a US official and two people familiar with the decision said.
It's Boeing Vs Northrop As Pentagon Reportedly Okays Next US Navy Fighter Jet After Delays - Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), Boeing (NYSE:BA)
The Pentagon will reportedly select the defense company to design and build the U.S. Navy's next stealth fighter jet as soon as this week, after months of delay in the multi-billion-dollar project.
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