US President Donald Trump awarded Boeing a pivotal contract Friday to develop the US Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet, a major boost for the company and its stock.
The Next Generation Air Dominance programme will succeed Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor, introducing a crewed aircraft designed to operate alongside drones.
“After a rigorous and thorough competition between some of America’s top aerospace companies, the Air Force is going to be awarding the contract for the next generation air dominance platform to Boeing,” Trump announced.
Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform will usher in a new generation of United States fighter jets that brings leap-ahead capability in range, survivability, lethality and adaptability. The NGAD Platform is the central node in the NGAD Family of Systems, Boeing said in a statement.
“We recognize the importance of designing, building and delivering a 6th-generation fighter capability for the United States Air Force. In preparation for this mission, we made the most significant investment in the history of our defense business, and we are ready to provide the most advanced and innovative NGAD aircraft needed to support the mission,” said Steve Parker, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
For nearly a century, Boeing has produced many of the most advanced combat aircraft for military customers around the globe including the P-51 Mustang, F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet and EA-18G Growler, among others. The NGAD selection builds on Boeing's fighter legacy and establishes a new global standard for 6th generation capability.
Further information on the NGAD Platform's technical and programmatic details remain classified under United States national security and export laws.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin issue the following statement on March 21, 2025:
Lockheed Martin continues to work to advance critical technologies to outpace emerging threats and deliver true 21st Century Security® solutions to our nation’s military forces. We are committed to advancing the state of the art in air dominance to ensure America has the most revolutionary systems to counter the rapidly evolving threat environment.
While disappointed with this outcome, we are confident we delivered a competitive solution. We will await further discussions with the U.S. Air Force, the statement added. (File Photo: US Air Force’s NGAD Sixth Generation Fighter Jet © Shutterstock)
