IRIA News

6 minute read

U.S. President Donald J. Trump, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, announced that the U.S. Air Force will proceed with the production of the highly anticipated Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet platform. The aircraft portion of NGAD has been officially designated the F-47.

“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,” Trump said during a news conference alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The U.S. president called the aircraft the “most advanced, capable, and lethal combat aircraft platform ever built.”

Replacing F-22 Raptor

The F-47 is being developed as part of a broader NGAD program which is a family of air combat systems that includes manned aircraft, drone wingmen, and potentially even space and cyber warfare integration.

The manned aircraft, envisioned as a quarterback for its drone counterparts, will offer unmatched low observability, extended range, and advanced stealth features that outclass current fifth-generation platforms like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

While prior stealth fighters were largely standalone assets, NGAD is built around real-time connectivity and data fusion. This allows the F-47 to act as the central node in a distributed combat network, leveraging AI, human-machine teaming, and unmanned systems for rapid, adaptive operations across contested airspace.

“[NGAD] is allowing us to look into the future and unlock the magic that is human-machine teaming,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin. “We’re going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare with this.”

The technical edge

One of NGAD’s most significant advantages is its extended operational range, potentially double that of the F-35. This extended reach is critical in Indo-Pacific scenarios, where vast distances across oceanic terrain demand deep-penetration capabilities.

Equally groundbreaking is its adaptive stealth. While the exact radar cross-section remains classified, early renders suggest a tailless, diamond-shaped fuselage optimized for broadband low observability and infrared signature reduction, a step forward from previous stealth geometries.

“[The F-47] will cost less than the F-22, be more adaptable to future threats and ‘have significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, be more sustainable, supportable, and have higher availability than our fifth-generation fighters,’” Allvin stated in a follow-up press release.

The platform’s modular design will also allow for rapid reconfiguration of sensors, weapons, and mission systems, a marked shift from legacy fighters. This is intended to keep the aircraft relevant as threats evolve, and supports the Air Force’s goal to “update at the speed of relevance.”

Boeing wins big contract

Boeing was selected as the lead contractor after a classified multi-year competitive analysis. Despite past friction with the Trump administration over Air Force One costs, Boeing’s design reportedly delivered the best value for the government in terms of performance, flexibility, and projected lifecycle costs.

With a production contract valued at $20 billion for the initial phase, the NGAD program represents a strategic boost to the defense industrial base, one that Hegseth emphasized during the announcement.

“[The F-47] sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere and to our enemies that we can, and we will, be able to project power around the globe, unimpeded, for generations to come,” Hegseth said. The Air Force has not disclosed how many F-47s will be built, but Allvin confirmed that the number will exceed the current inventory of F-22s, which stands at around 180.

AI and autonomous flight

A distinguishing element of NGAD is its foundational incorporation of artificial intelligence. The manned F-47 will operate alongside autonomous drones, often referred to as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), which can scout, jam, and even engage enemy aircraft. This integration is a critical component of the Air Force’s vision for “human-on-the-loop” combat command structures.

The drones, expected to cost significantly less than manned aircraft, will provide tactical flexibility and act as force multipliers — allowing the F-47 to engage in high-risk missions with reduced pilot exposure.

Furthermore, the NGAD platform is being developed with cloud-based mission planning and real-time threat libraries — enabling it to adjust tactics dynamically based on battlefield inputs.

“We’re going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare with this,” Allvin reiterated at the press conference.

Challenges and skepticism

Despite the enthusiasm, some analysts question whether investing heavily in a new manned fighter platform is forward-looking enough, especially as drone and space-based warfare advance rapidly.

That concern gains particular significance by the fact that the Pentagon is still struggling to scale and sustain its F-35 program, expected to exceed $1.7 trillion over its lifespan. Parallel efforts like the B-21 Raider, a stealth bomber with many overlapping technologies, are also in development, suggesting a crowded high-end procurement landscape.

Still, a recent review by the Air Force under the Biden administration determined that NGAD remained a critical asset, especially in hypothetical scenarios involving China. That finding ultimately cleared the way for Trump’s green light on production.

A leap into the future

The F-47’s designation carries symbolic meaning. It honors the WWII-era P-47 Thunderbolt, a workhorse of the Allied air campaign, and the U.S. Air Force’s founding year, 1947. It also nods to Trump’s numerical position as the 47th president, underlining his administration’s role in reviving the program.

As prototype test flights, reportedly ongoing for several years, transition to full-scale production, aerospace experts and military planners will be watching closely. If NGAD delivers on its promise, it will not just be a new jet — it will be a paradigm shift.

The skies of 2030 and beyond may be dominated not by individual aircraft, but by integrated webs of machines and humans, all speaking to each other in real time — with the F-47 leading the charge.