Boeing F-47
Boeing · Air Superiority Fighter (6th Gen) / Air Superiority · USA · Digital Age (2010–present)
The Boeing F-47 is the American sixth-generation manned fighter under development, selected as winner of the US Air Force's Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Penetrating Counter-Air programme and intended as long-term replacement for the F-22 Raptor. Boeing took the NGAD competition over Lockheed Martin in March 2025 — the largest US fighter contract since the F-35 award in 2001. First flight is targeted around 2028 with service entry around 2029. Programme value runs to roughly $20 billion for development and over $100 billion across the lifetime including production. The aircraft will serve the US Air Force as the principal air-superiority fighter from around 2030 onwards.
F-47 specifications remain classified. Open-source analysis describes a twin-engine sixth-generation stealth fighter, length around 22 m, MTOW near 45,000 kg (larger than F-22), sustained supersonic cruise at Mach 1.5+ without afterburner, maximum speed Mach 2.5+, range beyond 3,000 km (past the F-22's 2,960 km), and ceiling above 18,000 m. Propulsion comes from two adaptive-cycle engines — either the GE XA100 or Pratt & Whitney XA101, the competing programmes that supersede the F-35's F135. Avionics include an AESA radar, distributed sensor apertures, integrated electronic warfare, and very-low-observable shaping stealthier than the F-22 or F-35. The F-47 is designed to fight alongside attritable AI-piloted Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), with the manned fighter directing 2–4 unmanned wingmen for sensor coverage, weapons carriage, and electronic-attack roles in formation.
NGAD launched in 2018. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman were picked for risk-reduction contracts between 2019 and 2024. President Donald Trump announced Boeing as the winner on 21 March 2025 in an Oval Office press conference — a deliberate political reveal that bypassed the usual classified-programme protocols. The F-47 designation reportedly honours Trump's 47th-presidency tenure; the name was chosen for that reason. Lockheed Martin's losing NGAD design has not been publicly disclosed. The F-47 will progressively replace the 180-aircraft F-22 fleet and complement the F-35 (3,000+ planned). Boeing St. Louis will build the aircraft, with first flight targeted around 2028 and initial fielding in 2029–2030.
For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version
The Boeing F-47 is a brand-new American fighter jet. It is being built for the United States Air Force. It will replace the famous F-22 Raptor as the top air combat jet.
Boeing won the contract to build the F-47 in March 2025. This was the biggest fighter jet deal since the F-35 was chosen back in 2001. The program costs about 20 billion dollars just to develop.
The F-47 is a stealth jet, which means radar has a hard time spotting it. It uses two special engines that save fuel and provide huge power. These engines can push the jet to more than twice the speed of sound.
The F-47 is larger than the F-22 it replaces. It is about 22 meters long, which is longer than a city bus. It can fly very high and travel more than 3,000 kilometers without stopping.
The first flight is planned for around 2028. The Air Force hopes to start using the F-47 around 2029 or 2030. It will be the newest and most powerful fighter jet America has ever flown.
Fun Facts
- The F-47 is longer than a city bus, stretching about 22 meters from nose to tail.
- It can fly faster than Mach 2, which is more than twice the speed of sound.
- The F-47 can cruise at supersonic speed without even using its afterburner.
- It weighs about 45,000 kilograms — heavier than five full-grown elephants combined.
- The total lifetime cost of the F-47 program could reach over 100 billion dollars.
- Boeing beat Lockheed Martin in March 2025 to win the right to build this jet.
- The F-47 can fly higher than 18,000 meters — well above most clouds.
- Its stealth design makes it very hard for enemy radar to detect.
Kids’ Questions
What makes the F-47 different from older fighter jets?
The F-47 is a sixth-generation jet, which means it uses the newest technology available. It has stealth features, powerful adaptive engines, and sharp new radar. Older jets like the F-22 cannot match all of these things together.
When will the F-47 be ready to fly?
The first flight is planned for around 2028. After testing, the Air Force hopes to start using it around 2029 or 2030. It takes many years to build and test a jet this complex.
Why is the F-47 so expensive?
Building a brand-new fighter jet needs thousands of engineers and years of work. The F-47 uses cutting-edge stealth, sensors, and engines that are very hard to make. All that research and building adds up to a very large cost.
What will the F-47 be used for?
The F-47 will be the main air combat jet for the United States Air Force. Its job is to keep the skies safe by being the best fighter in the air. It is designed to outfly any other fighter jet in the world.
Variants
- F-47 (in development)
- Standard manned NGAD variant. First flight ~2028.
Notable Operators
- US Air Force (planned 2030+)
- Principal operator. F-22 replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Boeing win NGAD over Lockheed Martin?
The March 2025 selection reversed recent fighter-procurement trends — Lockheed Martin had won both the F-22 and F-35 contracts (two of the previous three major US fighter awards). USAF and Pentagon rationale remains classified, but observers cite three likely factors. First, production capacity: Boeing's St. Louis fighter line had spare slots after F/A-18 production wound down, while Lockheed's Fort Worth line is fully loaded with F-35 work. Second, technical maturity: Boeing's risk-reduction prototyping — an X-plane-class demonstrator reported to have flown between 2022 and 2024 — presented lower technical risk than Lockheed's submission. Third, programme management: Lockheed's F-35 cost and schedule troubles left a lingering institutional concern, while Boeing has held onto its F-15EX and KC-46 fighter and tanker programmes despite separate issues. The political timing of the Trump-administration reveal was a deliberate signal of Boeing's American-manufacturing credentials.
Sources
See Also
- F-22 Raptor — Direct replacement target