The U.S. Air Force has released new information on the sixth-generation F-47 fighter jet, confirming that it will fly faster, farther and with more stealth than any previous U.S. aircraft, according to a post by Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin.
The F-47, developed by Boeing under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, will have a combat radius of more than 1,000 nautical miles, a top speed above Mach 2, and what the Air Force describes as “stealth++” capabilities. That combat radius is nearly 70% farther than the F-22 Raptor and significantly exceeds the ranges of other fifth-generation fighters.
Allvin released the information May 13 on the social media platform X, in a post accompanied by a graphic comparing the F-47 to current and legacy fighters. The aircraft is expected to become operational between 2025 and 2029. The Air Force plans to acquire at least 185 of the jets, replacing its current F-22 fleet one-for-one.
Our @usairforce will continue to be the world’s best example of speed, agility, and lethality. Modernization means fielding a collection of assets that provide unique dilemmas for adversaries—matching capabilities to threats—while keeping us on the right side of the cost curve. pic.twitter.com/vqjxCdBYid
— General David Allvin (@OfficialCSAF) May 13, 2025
“Modernization means fielding a collection of assets that provide unique dilemmas for adversaries while keeping us on the right side of the cost curve,” Allvin wrote.
The extended range of the F-47 is aimed at improving survivability and operational reach in the Pacific region. The aircraft’s greater combat radius would allow U.S. tankers to operate farther from enemy threats while supporting strike missions in contested airspace.
While most performance specifications remain classified, the F-47 is expected to meet or exceed the capabilities of the F-22 in speed and stealth.
The infographic listed the F-22 as “stealth+” and the F-35 as simply “stealth.” The F-47 is rated “stealth++,” suggesting lower observability and improved survivability in modern threat environments.
The post also revealed new details on the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCA, program. Two uncrewed aircraft, the General Atomics YFQ-42A and Anduril’s YFQ-44A, will serve as drone wingmen to the F-47 and F-35. The CCAs will have a combat radius of more than 700 nautical miles and stealth comparable to the F-35. Their top speed remains classified.
The Air Force plans to buy more than 1,000 CCAs. They are expected to operate alongside crewed fighters to extend sensor range, carry additional weapons, and reduce risk to pilots.
Both the F-47 and the CCAs are planned to enter service between 2025 and 2029, although the Air Force has not defined what “operational” means in this context. Officials have said the F-47 will conduct its first flight before the end of President Trump’s term in January 2029.
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall previously said cost was a major concern in the NGAD program. Each F-47 is estimated to cost about $300 million, about three times the cost of an F-35A. That price led Kendall to consider cutting NGAD from the fiscal 2026 budget.
