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. 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] [10]
Design
Details about the F-47's design remain classified, but the aircraft is designed as an air superiority fighter for the Penetrating Counter-Air (PCA) role of a long range sensor-shooter. 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 be a long range, Mach 2-class aircraft that incorporates advanced stealth capabilities, sensor fusion, and the ability to coordinate operations with drone swarms, all intended to provide an advantage in combat. [6] [21]
This page is based on this
Wikipedia article Text is available under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
