Is The U.S. Navy Close To Announcing Next-Gen F/A-XX Contract Award?

The United States Navy has not yet awarded its F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier fighter contract, despite an earlier expectation of a decision by the end of August. Boeing and Northrop Grumman remain the reported finalists after Lockheed Martin left the competition. Congress provided $750 million in 2025 legislation and proposed another $1.4 billion for fiscal 2026 to accelerate the program, which is intended to replace Super Hornets in the mid-to-late 2030s. An announcement may come within weeks, but timing and the winning design remain publicly unconfirmed.