Senator Schmitt Secures Production of Navy’s Next-Generation Strike Fighter in St. Louis
F/A-XX Will Be Built by Missourians
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, celebrates President Donald Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to select Boeing St. Louis as the new prime contractor to build the F/A-XX, the Navy’s Next-Generation Strike Fighter. Schmitt worked closely with the Navy and the Trump administration to bring this program to St. Louis. This decision will expand the vital work Boeing St. Louis is undertaking to build America’s next-generation military aircraft, modernizing and strengthening America’s combat airpower while bringing more investment and jobs to the Show Me State.
“From McDonnell Douglas to Boeing, St. Louis is again ready and committed to delivering combat airpower for our warfighters. Today’s announcement by the Department of War and President Trump to award Boeing the F/A-XX contract—following last year’s decision to build the Air Force’s F-47 in St. Louis—is a testament to Missouri’s decades-long history of producing the best capabilities for our military, cementing St. Louis as ‘Fighterland USA’. With modernized systems and promising new capabilities, F/A-XX and F-47 production will create more opportunities to attract engineering and technology talent to Missouri. This decision also underscores the need to invest in solidifying America’s advantage over any enemy. I look forward to working with the Administration and my colleagues in the Senate to ensure the successful development and production of both platforms as we maintain peace through strength on the world stage,” said Senator Schmitt.
The F/A-XX will be the U.S. Navy’s next-generation strike fighter platform. Selecting Boeing St. Louis to produce both F/A-XX and the F-47 continues a decades-long history of building and delivering combat airpower to both the Air Force and the Navy through the production of the F-15 and the F/A-18, respectively, alongside other vital aircraft programs.
Senator Schmitt fought for:
- $750 million in the Working Families Tax Cut Act to accelerate the Navy’s F/A-XX program
- $972 million in the FY2026 Appropriations bill for F/A-XX development
- $68.5 million in the Senate FY2027 National Defense Authorization for authorizing F/A-XX development
Schmitt worked closely with President Trump to secure the implementation and funding for the F-47 program in St. Louis.
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