Boeing F-47
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| F-47 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Artist's rendering of an F-47 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Air superiority fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
The Boeing F-47 is an upcoming sixth-generation fighter aircraft being developed by Boeing for the United States Air Force (USAF) as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.[1][2] The aircraft is intended to succeed the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, as the USAF's most advanced air superiority fighter. The U.S. aims for the F-47 to become the world’s first operational sixth-generation fighter. According to USAF officials, experimental test flights have been underway since 2020, and the service plans to field the aircraft by the end of the decade.[3][4][5]
Development
The F-47 program is part of the USAF's Next Generation Air Dominance initiative, which aims to replace the aging Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fleet.[6] The initiative envisions a "family of systems" approach, with a crewed fighter, referred to as the Penetrating Counter-Air (PCA), serving as the central platform supported by uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). The PCA is intended to be a long range, high speed, stealthy sensor-shooter aircraft accompanied by CCAs that would carry additional munitions and perform other supporting missions.[5][7][8]
The winner of the NGAD development contract was to be chosen in 2024, but the Secretary of the Air Force paused the program in May 2024 after its projected cost soared, putting the price of each fighter at three times that of an F-35, and to allow an internal study to be conducted to determine the viability of the programs approach to air dominance in light of several rapid advances in aviation and air defense technology, particularly by America's adversaries.[9][10] In March 2025, the United States Air Force leadership, speaking at the Air & Space Forces Association's (AFA) 2025 Warfare Symposium, concluded the NGAD program would be continued according to the internal study. Kenneth Wilsbach of the Air Combat Command (ACC) suggested that crewed sixth-generation aircraft will be necessary for the future combat environment, citing increasing risks posed by Chinese sixth-generation aircraft development.[11][12]
On March 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the name of the new aircraft would be the F-47 and that the engineering and manufacturing development contract, worth more than $20 billion, would be awarded to Boeing.[5][13] In response to the announcement, Boeing's stock price closed 7% higher than the previous day's close and Lockheed Martin's stock price closed 5.7% lower than the previous day's close.[14][15][16]
This contract is expected to revitalize Boeing's military aviation division, especially its fighter production line in St. Louis, Missouri.[14] "Boeing has been pouring billions into building new facilities over the past few years, placing a big bet on NGAD and other next-generation programs in the hopes of finally returning its defense arm to profitability", wrote Defense One.[17] Steve Parker, interim CEO of Boeing's defense unit, called this build-up "the most significant investment in the history of our defense business."[17]
The New York Times reported that the designation F-47 was selected to honor Trump, the 47th president.[18] Trump, however, claimed that "the generals" chose the number, while describing it as "a beautiful number."[19] The Air Force later issued a statement confirming that the number 47 was indeed chosen as a tribute to Trump, but emphasized that it was not the only reason: "It honors the legacy of the P-47, whose contributions to air superiority during World War II remain historic. Additionally, the number pays tribute to the founding year of the Air Force, while also recognizing the 47th President’s pivotal support for the development of the world’s first sixth-generation fighter."[6]
The program has been flying X-planes—experimental aircraft meant to prove out design and technological elements—since 2020[13] and is expected to fly the F-47 by the end of Trump's term in early 2029, Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin said.[20]
Design
Details about the F-47's design remain classified. The F-47 will have "significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, be more sustainable, supportable, and have higher availability than our fifth-generation fighters"—that is, the F-22 and F-35, Allvin said.[21][22] He also said it would "cost less" than the F-22, be acquired in larger numbers, be "more adaptable to future threats," and "will take significantly less manpower and infrastructure to deploy."[20][10]
It is anticipated to incorporate advanced stealth capabilities, sensor fusion, and the ability to coordinate operations with drone swarms, all intended to provide an advantage in combat.[6][21]
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of fighter aircraft
- List of Lockheed aircraft
- List of active United States military aircraft
- List of megaprojects, Aerospace
- List of military electronics of the United States
References
- ^ Trimble, Steve (March 21, 2025). "Boeing Wins U.S. Air Force's NGAD F-47 Fighter Contract". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Epstein, Jake (March 21, 2025). "First US sixth-gen fighter jet will be the F-47, Trump says, and Boeing, not Lockheed, is going to build it". Business Insider. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Marrow, Michael; Insinna, Valerie (March 21, 2025). "Boeing wins Air Force contract for NGAD next-gen fighter, dubbed F-47". Breaking Defense. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Liebermann, Oren; Jaramillo, Alejandra (March 21, 2025). "Trump announces new US sixth-generation fighter jet that will be built by Boeing". CNN. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c Newdick, Thomas; Rogoway, Tyler (March 21, 2025). "Boeing Wins F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Contract". The War Zone. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c Copp, Tara (March 21, 2025). "Eyeing China threat, Trump announces Boeing wins contract for secretive future fighter jet". AP News. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Marrow, Michael; Insinna, Valerie (July 22, 2024). "Air Force secretary cracks door for unmanned next-gen fighter". Breaking Defense.
- ^ "Trump taps Boeing for Air Force's sixth-Gen fighter F-47 jet to counter China's military advances". The Economic Times. March 21, 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Marrow, Michael (July 30, 2024). "Air Force 'taking a pause' on NGAD next-gen fighter: Kendall". Breaking Defense. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Losey, Stephen (March 21, 2025). "Boeing wins contract for NGAD fighter jet, dubbed F-47". Defense News. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (March 5, 2025). "Next Generation Fighter Critical To Future Air Superiority, Key USAF Study Concluded". The War Zone.
- ^ Capaccio, Anthony; Woodhouse, Skylar (March 21, 2025). "Boeing Wins Bid for Futuristic US Fighter Jet With Eye on China". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Ellen (March 21, 2025). "Boeing wins battle for $20B fighter jet contract, Trump announces". The Hill. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Stone, Mike (March 21, 2025). "Trump picks Boeing over Lockheed for fighter jet contracts". Reuters. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Miller, Harrison (March 19, 2025). "Boeing Stock Rockets, Suppliers Rally, On Deliveries Affirmation". Investor's Business Daily. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ "Why Lockheed Martin (LMT) Stock Is Down Today". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Decker, Audrey (March 21, 2025). "Boeing wins Air Force's next-gen fighter contract". Defense One. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Sanger, David E. (March 21, 2025). "Trump offers a glimpse of a new stealth fighter, the F-47". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ Demarest, Colin (March 21, 2025). "Trump touts Boeing as builder of Air Force's future F-47 fighter". Axios. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "Statement by Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Allvin on the USAF NGAD Contract Award". Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs (Press release). March 21, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Cervantes, Fernando Jr (March 21, 2025). "Trump announces $20 billion contract with Boeing for new F-47 fighter jet. What to know". USA Today. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Tirpak, John (March 21, 2025). "Air Force Chief: How the New F-47 Will Improve on the F-22". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2025.