The Pentagon said Boeing has been selected to build the US Navy’s next-generation stealth fighter.

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, that the decision marks Boeing’s second consecutive major fighter-jet contract and comes after months of delays over a program considered central to the US strategy for countering China in the Pacific.

Boeing beat out rival Northrop Grumman Corp, opens new tab for the development contract, worth $20 billion, to produce test aircraft. The program could grow to hundreds of billions over its lifetime as production ramps up and, potentially, as international customers place orders.