Boeing to build Air Force’s future fighter, the F-47

DOD awarded Boeing a contract for the nation’s next air supremacy fighter, the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) manned plane, officially dubbed the F-47, as reported by Defense News. President Donald Trump announced the decision at the White House, alongside senior Air Force officials.

Described by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin as “the most advanced, lethal and adaptable fighter ever developed,” the F-47 is expected to replace the F-22 Raptor. Its classified design promises greater range, enhanced stealth capabilities, and an open-system architecture to quickly integrate new technology. Trump said the jet will be “virtually unseeable” and able to operate with “multiple autonomous drones” known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

The new fighter will complement—rather than replace—the F-35, which has faced cost overruns, delayed technology refreshes, and persistent sustainment challenges that have complicated its mission readiness. Still, despite those hurdles, it remains the multirole workhorse for both the US and its allies. Air Force leaders envision the F-47 taking on specialized air superiority and deep-strike tasks, while the F-35 continues to handle a broad spectrum of operations—including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance—at a lower overall cost. By operating together and sharing real-time data, these stealth platforms, along with accompanying drone wingmen, can magnify each other’s strengths to secure contested airspace on future battlefields.

The Air Force has tested NGAD prototypes for years, fine-tuning the cutting-edge fighter behind the scenes. The Biden administration left decision-making on NGAD to Trump’s Pentagon. Allvin claimed the F-47 “will cost less” than the F-22, be produced in higher quantities, and require “significantly less manpower” to deploy. Boeing has struggled with other commercial and defense programs in recent years—including delays and cost overruns on its KC-46 tanker and T-7 trainer—so this victory is a major win for its defense arm.

Lockheed Martin, builder of the F-35 and F-22, said it is disappointed but has not indicated whether it will file a protest. Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman bowed out of the competition earlier.