US Navy, Boeing to develop sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter

The US Navy has awarded Boeing a contract worth more than $20 billion for the full-scale development of the F/A-XX, a sixth-generation carrier-based strike fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme, the US Department of Defence said on September 29.

The contract includes the production of multiple test aircraft for ground, airworthiness, systems and weapons integration testing, Caliber.Az reports.

“The F/A-XX is a critical pillar in our commitment to maintaining peace through strength. F/A-XX will dominate contested airspace, extend operational reach, and deliver a decisive combat advantage for the warfighter,” said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment.

“The F/A-XX platform represents a crucial, non-negotiable investment in America's national security and long-term air combat capabilities. 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.”

The F/A-XX is designed to provide advanced carrier-based power projection and extend the operational range of US Navy aircraft carriers. It will also be interoperable with manned and unmanned platforms, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), and is intended to enhance the capabilities of the unmanned aircraft operating alongside it.

“This achievement marks a new era for the U.S. Navy,” said acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao.

“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. We are excited to partner with Boeing, and for our warfighters to continue to dominate the skies and defeat our nation's enemies.”

Under the programme, Boeing is expected to begin delivering the F/A-XX in the 2030s. The aircraft will augment and eventually replace the Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets and operate alongside the F-35C.

The Pentagon said the next-generation strike fighter is intended to provide the US Navy with advanced air combat capabilities for decades to come.

By Sabina Mammadli