The Pentagon is set to announce this week which defense contractor will design and build the U.S. Navy’s next-generation stealth fighter, the F/A-XX program, to counter China’s air capabilities. Boeing and Northrop Grumman are competing for the multibillion-dollar contract, with $750 million allocated and $1.4 billion earmarked for fiscal 2026. Lockheed Martin was eliminated from the competition. The new jets are expected to enter service in the 2030s, while the current F/A-18 fleet will remain active into the 2040s.

Relevant companies involved in the bidding process include Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin. Matthew Kerr, a data analyst at Quiver Quantitative, is monitoring the developing story closely.

Read more at Quiver Quant: Pentagon to Choose Boeing or Northrop for Navy’s Next-Generation Stealth Fighter