On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that Boeing will be tasked with building the Air Force’s upcoming fighter jet, a project dubbed the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD). The Pentagon highlights the jet’s stealth and penetration capabilities as surpassing those of the current fleet, viewing it as vital for a possible conflict with China.
The manned NGAD jet will act as the central coordinator for a future fleet of drone aircraft capable of breaching the air defenses of China and other adversaries. The initial production contract for the Air Force version is valued at an estimated $20 billion.
The announcement was made at the White House with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force leadership by President Trump, who shared that the new fighter would be named the F-47. Gen. David Allvin, the Air Force’s chief of staff, stated that the initiative would redefine modern aerial warfare. Secretary Hegseth added that the future fleet signals a firm commitment to allies.
Concerns have been raised regarding the cost and necessity of the program, especially as the Pentagon continues to work on fully producing its current advanced jet, the F-35, which is projected to cost over $1.7 trillion. The Pentagon is also developing the B-21 Raider bomber, incorporating many cutting-edge technologies.
Over 1,100 F-35s have already been built for the U.S. and international partners, while a fleet of around 100 B-21 stealth bombers is planned at a cost of at least $130 billion. The first B-21 aircraft are undergoing test flights.
Dan Grazier, a military procurement analyst, questioned whether an additional manned fighter jet was the optimal platform given the focus on drone and space warfare in a potential conflict with China. Grazier, of the Stimson Center, pointed out that the $20 billion contract was merely initial funding, with total costs expected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars.
Details regarding the NGAD fighter’s design remain sparse, although Trump indicated that early versions have been tested over the past five years. Renderings by Lockheed Martin and Boeing have depicted a flat, tailless aircraft with a sharp nose.
The selection of Boeing, which has faced scrutiny for cost overruns and delays related to Air Force One, was made following an independent analysis by the Air Force. According to an anonymous official, Boeing provided the best overall value to the government.
The Air Force has not specified the number of F-47s to be produced, but Gen. Allvin mentioned that production would surpass that of the F-22, with approximately 180 currently in service.
A separate Navy contract for its version of the NGAD fighter remains in contention between Northrop Grumman and Boeing.
In the previous year, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, appointed by the Biden administration, paused the NGAD program to assess its necessity and any needed modifications due to recent advancements in warfare. After consulting think tanks and academia, the review affirmed NGAD’s necessity, leaving the firm selection to the new Trump administration, according to an anonymous defense official.
NGAD is expected to offer enhanced low observability and a significantly longer range than the F-35 or other current fighter jets, reducing the need for refueling. The development of an unmanned version is planned, as AI improvements are integrated into the aircraft, the official commented.
