President Donald Trump officially announced on Friday that Boeing has been selected to develop the F-47, the United States Air Force's upcoming sixth-generation fighter jet. Standing in the Oval Office alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air reportedly Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, the president described the aircraft as the most advanced and lethal platform ever constructed.
Boeing secured the contract after a rigorous competition among top American aerospace firms. While the specific details of the design remain highly classified, the president noted that an experiential version of the aircraft has reportedly been undergoing secret flight tests for nearly five years. The program is expected to serve as the centerpiece of the Next Generation Air Dominance initiative.
Defense Secretary Hegseth praised the decision to revive the program, which had faced a strategic pause under the Biden administration. Air Force officials clarified that the pause, initiated in May 2024, was intended to ensure the program could effectively mature critical technologies and accelerate innovation. The project is now moving forward to address security needs.
Boeing Defense, Space & Security interim president Steve Parker stated that the company has made significant investments in anticipation of this mission. The firm is preparing its St. Louis facilities to handle the advanced manufacturing requirements for the platform. This contract represents a major development for the company’s future in tactical air power production.
The F-47 program is broader than a single manned aircraft, as it incorporates a wide array of new technologies. Current plans involve integrating the fighter with autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones, along with advanced jet engines, sophisticated electronic warfare suites, and next-generation networking ecosystems designed to maintain air superiority in contested environments.
Analysts note that the platform is specifically tailored to counter near-peer adversaries, particularly in the Indo-Pacific theater. Air Force leadership emphasized that the F-47 is a vital component of the service's strategy to project power unimpeded for generations. The project aims to provide capabilities that exceed any existing tactical aviation technology globally.
While the Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract is estimated at approximately $20 billion, the total value of the program could reach hundreds of billions of dollars over its lifespan. The Air Force hopes to begin fielding the new aircraft within the next decade to ensure lasting dominance in the skies.
