Boeing has started building the Air Force’s first F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter, with the service aiming for a first flight in 2028.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin announced the milestone during his keynote at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual conference on Monday.
The aircraft, part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, is set to replace the F-22 Raptor and will feature advanced stealth, sensor, and communications capabilities.
In March, President Donald Trump announced that Boeing had secured the contract to build the crewed fighter jet. While the program’s total cost remains undisclosed, each aircraft is expected to cost around $300 million.
“It’s the platform that, along with the rest of the [accompanying family of] systems, is going to ensure [air] dominance into the future,” Allvin said. “In the few short months since we made the [F-47] announcement, they are already beginning to manufacture the first article. We’re ready to go fast. We have to go fast.”
Allvin did not disclose the current stage of the jet’s manufacturing but shared its expected operational timeline: “The team is committed to getting the first one flying in 2028,” he said.
Meet the @USAirForce‘s sixth-generation fighter, the F-47, bringing next-gen technologies to ensure air dominance for decades to come.#AFANational pic.twitter.com/eUEfW2JzD8
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) September 22, 2025
According to fiscal 2026 budget documents, the Pentagon expects the jet’s development phase to run until at least fiscal year 2030.
Air Force officials previously said the F-47 might take flight during the Trump administration.
