Boeing wins $20B Navy F/A-XX contract to build next-gen carrier fighter

The Pentagon selected Boeing to develop the Navy's F/A-XX next-generation carrier fighter, a $20B contract that ends years of indecision over the future of the carrier air wing. The aircraft will replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as it retires in the 2030s, with a primary mission to extend the carrier air wing's strike range, which has shrunk over the past two decades. This marks a major win for Boeing's defense unit and a setback for competitors, though program details and timeline remain to be finalized.