On March 21, 2025, President Donald Trump took a significant step in the evolution of U.S. military aviation by announcing that Boeing has been awarded the contract to build the Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter, aptly named the F-47. This announcement was made with much fanfare from the Oval Office, as Trump stood alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Air Force Chief of Staff General David W. Allvin, and other key military officials.
The F-47 is set to replace the aging fleet of Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptors, marking a bold advance into the sixth generation of fighter aircraft. Trump emphasized the project's significance by stating, "It’s something the likes of which nobody has seen before," and he referred to the fighter as the “most lethal aircraft ever built.” With a claimed capability of achieving speeds exceeding Mach 2 and unprecedented maneuverability, the F-47 is designed to engage in combat alongside a fleet of unmanned drones, enhancing its operational flexibility and lethality.
Boeing's securing of this contract is crucial for the company, which has recently faced challenges including production delays and financial losses. The initial $20 billion contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase is expected to ultimately generate hundreds of billions of dollars in orders throughout the program's lifetime, which aims to sustain U.S. air superiority well into the 2030s.
The Air Force plans to begin fielding the F-47 in the mid-2030s, with each aircraft potentially costing as much as $300 million. The design of the aircraft leans heavily on stealth technologies coupled with advanced sensors and networking capabilities, making it instrumental in future air combat scenarios, particularly with respect to threats from nations like China and Russia.
Competing against the established capabilities of Lockheed Martin, Boeing ultimately prevailed in the contest to produce the F-47, ushering in a new era for American air power. This development comes on the heels of a pause in the NGAD program last summer, during which former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall reassessed its cost and viability. The internal review concluded that a manned fighter was crucial for achieving air superiority in future conflicts.
“The F-47 will cost less and be more adaptable to future threats than the F-22,” General Allvin said. Additionally, he noted that the aircraft promises significantly longer range, enhanced stealth features, improved sustainability, and higher availability than existing fifth-generation fighters.
As touted by Trump, the operational capabilities of the F-47 will be heavily tied to its coordination with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), a fleet of drones designed to support the fighter's operational goals. Allvin highlighted the importance of engaging in human-machine teaming to enhance effectiveness on the battlefield. The incoming wave of drones, including the anticipated General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Andruil Industries’ YFQ-44A, is set to redefine how future aerial engagements are conducted.
While the announcement has excited military enthusiasts and strategists alike, critics are raising questions regarding the necessity and cost-effectiveness of developing such advanced aircraft at a time when the U.S. military is still grappling with the full production of the existing F-35 platform, expected to cost taxpayers over $1.7 trillion over its lifespan.
The investment in the F-47 is significant for Boeing as well, given that the firm has struggled with cost overruns and delays on other projects, including its Air Force One aircraft. This contract is seen as a much-needed win, especially as the company rebounds from substantial losses reported in January 2025.
“We’ve given an order for a lot. We can’t tell you the price,” Trump disclosed to reporters, noting foreign interest in purchasing the aircraft as well. “Our allies are calling constantly,” he added, indicating potential international collaboration could follow in the wake of the F-47's debut.
Trump's reference to the aircraft as having been in testing for "five years” may come as a surprise to some, as the details surrounding the NGAD program have largely been kept under wraps. Trump indicated that the fighter’s development was marked by significant advancements made during testing, which has covered multiple prototypes or X-planes, ensuring heightened confidence in production.
As nations around the world seek to bolster their own aerial capabilities, the F-47 program may also lead to an arms race, particularly against its primary competitors in the Pacific region. The announcement signals a clear objective from the U.S. to maintain its technological edge in military aviation.
The F-47's plans and specifications may provoke heated discussion and debate within defense circles, especially concerning the comparative effectiveness of manned versus unmanned solutions, as outspoken figures like Elon Musk have championed the latter. Nevertheless, with the future air combat landscape poised for transformation, the implications of the F-47 are likely to echo well beyond its entry into service.
The integration of innovative features like the ability to deploy capabilities across multiple drone platforms will potentially reshape aerial warfare, as articulated by General Allvin: “We’re going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare with this.” As the program unfolds, it remains to be seen how the F-47 will perform against its competitors and in the ever-evolving arena of military aviation.
