Boeing unveils concept image for proposed sixth-generation navy fighter

"This is just a concept," according to statements in industry reports. "The final F/A-XX design may differ fundamentally, with mission requirements, especially naval demands like folding wings, reinforced structures, and arresting gear, creating an aircraft that looks very different." The contract for building the F/A-XX has not yet been awarded.

The Navy’s NGAD program aims to replace existing fighters such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and work alongside platforms like Lockheed Martin’s F-35C. Boeing is one of two main competitors bidding for this contract; Northrop Grumman is also vying for selection after Lockheed Martin's proposal was deemed insufficient by program officials.

While Boeing says it can develop both sixth-generation jets in parallel—a claim supported by its recent $2 billion investment in a new assembly facility in St. Louis—the Pentagon remains cautious about industry capacity to handle simultaneous programs at this scale. In Fiscal Year 2026 budget planning, over $3 billion was allocated toward development of the Air Force’s F-47 compared with $76 million set aside for initial work on the Navy’s F/A-XX.

Northrop Grumman recently released its own stealth-oriented rendering of an alternative design featuring a broad nose and single-pilot configuration but lacking canards—a feature speculated to be part of Boeing's approach.

Currently, priority within defense spending remains with advancing development on the Air Force's F-47 project due to its technical complexity and cost considerations as potentially one of history's most challenging military aviation undertakings. Until funding priorities shift or further decisions are made by Pentagon leadership regarding industrial strategy and future budgets, progress on the Navy’s next-generation fighter will remain limited. In the meantime, service life extensions are expected for current models such as the Super Hornet until a final decision is reached on production contracts.