Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Boeing has won the competition to develop a manned sixth-generation fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force under the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. The aircraft will be designated as the F-47. Jets developed under this program are expected to eventually replace Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor and operate alongside unmanned combat aircraft.
“The experimental version of this jet has been flying in secret for nearly five years, and we are confident that it surpasses the capabilities of any other country,” Trump stated. He also suggested that smaller variants of the F-47 could be made available to U.S. allies.
The contract for engineering and manufacturing development, valued at a minimum of $20 billion, was contested between Boeing’s Phantom Works division and Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. This initial award is expected to be followed by orders worth hundreds of billions of dollars over the program’s lifetime. The exact unit cost of an NGAD fighter remains unknown, but the most credible estimate places it at around $300 million per aircraft.
Both companies submitted designs last year and continued development while awaiting a final decision. The winning company will likely build upon one of these proposals or an updated version, depending on potential program revisions. The U.S. Air Force had been prepared to announce the winner last year, but the decision was deferred to the next administration, which was expected to conduct additional analysis before committing to a long-term procurement strategy. NGAD is currently the Air Force’s most expensive research and development program. The budget request for 2025 includes $19.6 billion in funding over the next five years.
The announcement on March 21, 2025, was accompanied by President Trump unveiling an image of the F-47. Some speculate that the aircraft’s designation is a reference to Trump being the 47th president of the United States.
“”The contract for developing the next-generation air dominance platform (F-47) is a monumental leap forward in ensuring America’s air superiority for decades to come,” stated U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin. “This contract reaffirms our commitment to maintaining the United States’ position as the world’s most powerful air force.”
He added that with the F-47, the United States is not merely building a new fighter jet. Compared to the F-22, it will be more cost-effective, better suited to future threats, and offer improved range, stealth capabilities, and maintainability.
“We are shaping the future of warfare and putting our adversaries on notice. This platform will be the most advanced, lethal, and adaptable fighter jet ever developed—designed to outpace, outmaneuver, and outperform any opponent who dares to challenge our brave U.S. Air Force personnel,” stated General David Allvin. “Despite what our adversaries claim, the F-47 is truly the world’s first crewed sixth-generation fighter, built to dominate the most formidable enemies and operate in the most dangerous conditions imaginable.”
Source: theaviationist
