Boeing has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract to develop the F-47, the country’s first sixth-generation fighter jet. President Donald Trump announced the decision Friday from the White House, calling the F-47 essential to keeping the U.S. ahead of rivals like China.
The F-47 is part of the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance program, or NGAD. It will replace older fighters like the F-22 and is designed to fly with drones, use advanced stealth, and carry long-range weapons. The Air Force says a prototype has already been flying in secret for several years.
“This is the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet,” Trump said. “Nothing else comes close.”
Dominate the Skies
Get your first look at what will be the most advanced, lethal, & adaptable fighter ever developed… the U.S. Air Force’s F-47. pic.twitter.com/ca1CeBABb5
— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) March 21, 2025
The contract begins the engineering and manufacturing phase, which will build and test a small number of jets. The final cost of the program is not public, but each aircraft is expected to cost about $300 million. The F-47 could be flying operational missions by the end of the decade.
The decision is a major win for Boeing, which beat Lockheed Martin in the competition. Boeing has faced recent setbacks on other Air Force programs, including delays on the KC-46 tanker and the new Air Force One.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the F-47 a “historic investment” and said it would help strengthen the U.S. military and its defense industry. “It’s longer range, more stealthy, and more affordable than current jets,” he said.
The Air Force said the F-47 will be able to work with unmanned drones and adapt to new technologies over time. It will be the centerpiece of a family of systems that includes advanced sensors and networked communications.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said the goal is to stay ahead of other countries. “Air dominance isn’t guaranteed. It has to be earned every day,” he said.
Trump also suggested that the U.S. may sell toned-down versions of the F-47 to some allies, unlike the F-22, which was never exported.
The NGAD program is expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars over time. The Air Force has already committed $19 billion to it over the next five years. The F-47’s exact capabilities remain classified, but officials said it would be faster, stealthier, and more powerful than anything currently in service.
Trump ended the announcement by saying, “Hopefully, we won’t have to use it. But if we do, America’s enemies won’t know what hit them.”
