The F-47 is the United States Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter jet, developed by Boeing under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme. Announced by President Trump on 21 March 2025, the F-47 Boeing contract is valued at approximately $20 billion and is designed to replace the F-22 Raptor — with a first flight planned for 2028 and operational service in the early 2030s.
What Is the F-47 NGAD Fighter?
The F-47 is the crewed centrepiece of the broader Next Generation Air Dominance initiative — a programme built to ensure U.S. air superiority against China and Russia in the decades ahead. Beyond the sixth generation fighter jet itself, NGAD covers autonomous drone wingmen, advanced adaptive engines, AI battle management, and electronic warfare systems.
Boeing beat out Lockheed Martin — maker of the F-22 and F-35 — to win the contract. Manufacturing of the first airframe is already underway in St. Louis. By April 2026, the Trump Administration had requested more than $5 billion in R&D funding for FY2027, bringing cumulative programme spending to nearly $8.5 billion.
F-47 vs F-22: Why a Replacement Was Inevitable
The F-22 Raptor remains the world’s best air superiority fighter in service — but it was designed for a different era.
| F-47 | F-22 Raptor | |
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 6th | 5th |
| Max Speed | Mach 2+ | Mach 2.25 |
| Combat Radius | >1,000 nm | ~590 nm |
| Engines | 2× adaptive-cycle (NGAP) | 2× F119 |
| First Flight | 2028 (planned) | 1997 |
| Entry to Service | Early 2030s | 2005 |
In an F-47 vs F-22 comparison, the gap that matters most is range. The F-22’s ~590 nautical mile combat radius is insufficient for offensive operations across the Pacific without tanker support. The F-47 more than doubles that. It also integrates real-time datalink and autonomous drone command — capabilities the F-22 was never built for.
China’s apparent sixth-generation J-36 prototype, flown publicly in late 2024, made the urgency impossible to ignore.
Engine: Pratt & Whitney XA103 vs GE XA102
The F-47 will be powered by a Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) engine — but the winner hasn’t been chosen yet. Both Pratt & Whitney (XA103) and GE Aerospace (XA102) completed their Assembly Readiness Reviews in May 2026, clearing both to begin assembling physical prototypes. A down-select is expected in the early 2030s.
Unlike conventional turbofans, adaptive-cycle engines shift their internal configuration in flight — high-thrust for Mach 2+ combat, fuel-efficient cruise for 1,000+ nm transit. For the F-47 NGAD mission profile, that flexibility is not optional.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft: The F-47’s Drone Wingmen
The Air Force plans to acquire more than 1,000 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) — roughly two per F-47. These semi-autonomous drones fly ahead into contested airspace to suppress air defences, gather intelligence, and strike targets, all directed from the F-47’s cockpit.
The F-47 Boeing design functions as the “quarterback” of this system. It is not just a fighter — it is the command node of an entire autonomous fleet.
Programme Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | Trump announces F-47 NGAD contract to Boeing (~$20B) |
| September 2025 | First airframe in production in St. Louis |
| November 2025 | Boeing confirms 2028 first flight target |
| May 2026 | XA103 and XA102 engines clear Assembly Readiness Reviews |
| 2028 | First flight planned |
| Early 2030s | Operational service begins |
| Mid-2030s | Progressive F-22 replacement |
Sources: U.S. Air Force, Air & Space Forces Magazine, The War Zone, 19FortyFive, The Aviationist, Mitchell Institute.
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