Boeing has dropped the first public rendering of its proposed F/A-XX fighter, offering a glimpse at a design that appears to echo elements of the US Air Force’s F-47 combat aircraft.
The image shows the aircraft flying above a US Navy aircraft carrier, partly shrouded in clouds that obscured possible canards and wingtips, with no tail visible.
The cockpit shape bears a resemblance to the F-47, while the navy version’s smaller radome contrasts with the air force fighter’s wider nose.
Earlier Boeing concepts have also explored tailless designs, suggesting a consistent approach in its next-gen thinking.
Although both the F/A-XX and F-47 are classified as sixth-gen fighters, their roles differ. The F/A-XX is expected to extend range by about 25 percent over current strike fighters and use a derivative engine.
On the other hand, the F-47 will feature a new adaptive power plant capable of a combat radius exceeding 1,000 nautical miles (1,151 miles/1,852 kilometers) and speeds above Mach 2 (2,470 kilometers/1,535 miles per hour).
Racing for Next-Gen Air Dominance
The F/A-XX effort has seen competition from Boeing and Northrop Grumman, which also recently revealed a rendering of its design.
Despite interest from some US Navy officials and congressional advocates, the program faces headwinds after the Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 budget proposed pausing F/A-XX, funding only design completion while prioritizing the air force’s F-47.
Concerns have been raised about the industry’s ability to build two advanced fighters simultaneously, though Boeing executives have dismissed the issue.
Steve Parker, head of Boeing Defense and Space, said that the company structured its approach to compete for and win both programs.
Boeing has already invested about $2 billion in air dominance projects, including the Advanced Combat Aircraft Assembly Facility now under construction in St. Louis, reinforcing its bid for a key role in the Pentagon’s next-gen tactical aircraft efforts.
