WASHINGTON- Boeing has secured the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract for the U.S. Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet.
President Donald Trump, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Air Force Chief General David Allvin announced from the Oval Office that the aircraft would be the F-47—America’s first sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
Photo- WIkipediaBoeing F-47 NGAD
The contract represents Boeing’s first “clean-sheet fighter design” to be selected since merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Previous Boeing fighters, like the F-15EX, originated from McDonnell Douglas designs. A clean-sheet design is when we start with nothing but a blank sheet of paper and the customer’s needs.
“I’m thrilled to announce that, at my direction, the United States Air Force is moving forward with the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet… Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it’ll be known as the F-47.”
President Trump stated during the White House press briefing
Steve Parker, Interim President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, said that they have made the most significant investment in the history of the defense business, and are ready to provide the most advanced and innovative NGAD aircraft needed to support the mission.
“We recognize the importance of designing, building and delivering a 6th-generation fighter capability for the United States Air Force.”
Steve Parker, Interim President and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Lockheed Martin, the other contender for the contract, expressed disappointment but acknowledged the outcome. The company hasn’t indicated whether it plans to protest the decision.
Photo: Lockheed MartinAdvanced Capabilities
While specific details remain classified, President Trump described the F-47 as something “the likes of which nobody has seen before.” The aircraft reportedly features:
- State-of-the-art stealth technology makes it “virtually unseeable”
- Unprecedented power, with speeds exceeding Mach 2
- Exceptional maneuverability despite its size and power
- Advanced payload capabilities
Although the final engine selection for the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program remains pending, both General Electric’s XA102 and Pratt & Whitney’s XA103 engines are candidates. These engines feature three-stream adaptive cycle designs that provide increased fuel efficiency, enhanced cooling capabilities, or additional thrust depending on mission requirements.
trump_f-47; Photo- APDevelopment Timeline
Perhaps most surprisingly, President Trump revealed that “an experimental version of the plane has secretly been flying for almost 5 years.” This confirms Dr. Will Roper’s 2020 announcement that an NGAD demonstrator was already airborne.
Trump suggested an accelerated timeline, mentioning that “they’ve already built much of what has to be built in terms of production, including the sheds,” likely referencing Boeing’s recent $1.8 billion investment in a new 1.1 million square-foot manufacturing center expected to be complete by 2026.
The President expressed hope that the F-47 could enter production and service before the end of his term in 2029, aligning with the Air Force’s initial plan to field the aircraft in the 2030s.
Boeing’s YF-118G Bird of Prey; Photo- WikipediaDesign Features
Two computer-generated images of the F-47 were shown during the announcement. The design appears to incorporate features from Boeing’s YF-118G Bird of Prey technology demonstrator from the 1990s, including wing dihedral and a distinctive shovel-like nose.
Notably, the aircraft features a canard configuration with foreplanes visible beside the cockpit. This design choice is unusual for stealth aircraft but may indicate Boeing’s focus on superior maneuverability and stability.
The released images don’t reveal the complete planform, tail configuration, or engine details. While most NGAD renderings show twin-engine designs with underside air inlets, the actual configuration remains unclear. The images may even be somewhat notional to protect sensitive design elements.
Photo: By wallycacsabre – F22-28, CC BY 2.0; Photo- Wikimedia CommonsCost and Production Numbers
While President Trump declined to reveal the exact price “because it would give way to some of the technology and some of the size of the plane,” General Allvin provided some context in his statement.
“Compared to the F-22, the F-47 will cost less, and we will have more of the F-47s in our inventory,” Allvin noted. With the F-22 Raptor priced at approximately $143 million per unit, this suggests the F-47 will cost significantly less than earlier estimates of $300 million per aircraft.
The Air Force plans to produce more F-47s than the 195 F-22 Raptors that were built before production ended. Initial NGAD plans suggested an order of approximately 200 fighters.
P-47 Thunderbolt; Photo- WikipediaInternational Interest
President Trump mentioned that U.S. allies “are calling constantly” to acquire the aircraft, suggesting “toned-down versions” might be available for export. This contrasts with the F-22 Raptor, which has never been approved for export due to its sensitive technologies.
The F-47 designation has historical significance—the World War II-era P-47 Thunderbolt received this designation after the new Mission Design Series was approved in 1947. However, some have noted the current designation may also reference Trump being the 47th President of the United States.
As development continues, the F-47 aims to maintain American air superiority well into the future, competing directly with China’s recently unveiled sixth-generation fighter prototypes that began flight testing in December 2024.
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Donald Trump Awards $20 Billion Contract to Boeing for Advanced F-47 Aircraft
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