USAF selects Boeing to build F-47 NGAD

The US Department of the Air Force has selected Boeing as winner of the contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform, the F-47. This will marking a major milestone in the advancement of air superiority, says the US Air Force in a statement. The contract will lead to the development of the world’s first sixth-generation fighter aircraft. The aircraft does not yet have an official name.

“I’m thrilled to announce that, at my direction, the United States Air Force is moving forward with the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet,” said US President Donald J. Trump during a press briefing at the White House.

“In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there’s never been anything even close to it, from speed to manoeuvrability, to what it can have, to payload. And this has been in the works for a long period of time,” Trump added. “America’s enemies will never see it coming.”

As the cornerstone of the NGAD Family of Systems, the F-47 is designed to integrate next-generation stealth, sensor fusion, and long-range strike capabilities to counter the most sophisticated adversaries in contested environments. Its adaptability and modular design ensure seamless integration with emerging technologies, positioning it as a dominant platform for decades to come, says the USAF statement.

“With this F-47 as the crown jewel in the Next Generation Air Dominance Family of Systems, we believe that this provides more lethality,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. “It provides more capability, more modernized capability, in a way that is built to adapt, along with our Collaborative Combat Aircraft.”

The decision follows a fair and thorough source selection process conducted by the US Air Force, reaffirming the NGAD Platform as the most capable and cost-effective solution to maintain air superiority in an increasingly complex and contested global threat environment. The decision reflects the Air Force’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to the warfighter while optimizing taxpayer investment.

In May 2024, the Air Force conducted a strategic pause in the program to ensure it was making the right decision for its warfighters and for the security of the nation. During this time, the Air Force continued collaborating with industry to aggressively mature critical technologies and accelerate innovation.

“Now we have the F-47, which sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere… and to our enemies that we can, and we will be able to project power around the globe, unimpeded, for generations to come,” said Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth stated the F-47 represents a significant advancement over the F-22, which is currently the USAF’s primary air superiority fighter.

“This is a historic investment in the American military, in the American Industrial Base, that will help revive the warrior ethos inside our military, which we’re doing–rebuilding our military,” Hegseth added. “We know this is cheaper, longer range and more stealthy.”

The NGAD Platform will usher in a new generation of US fighters that brings leap-ahead capability in range, survivability, lethality and adaptability, said Boeing in a statement. The NGAD Platform is the central node in the NGAD Family of Systems.

“We recognize the importance of designing, building and delivering a 6th-generation fighter capability for the United States Air Force,” said Steve Parker Boeing Defense, Space and Security’s interim president and CEO. “In preparation for this mission, we made the most significant investment in the history of our defence business, and we are ready to provide the most advanced and innovative NGAD aircraft needed to support the mission.”

Over the past five years, in strong partnership between the Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), X-planes have been laying the foundation for the F-47. These experimental aircraft have flown hundreds of hours, advancing stealth, range, and autonomous systems while refining operational concepts.

By leveraging cutting-edge digital engineering techniques and government-owned architecture, says the US DoD, the F-47 benefits from a streamlined and accelerated development timeline compared to previous fighter programs. These advancements enable rapid technology integration, ensuring the F-47 remains adaptable and upgradable to meet future mission requirements and counter emerging threats.

The contract award funds the engineering and manufacturing development phase, which includes maturing, integrating, and testing all aspects of the F-47. This phase will produce a small number of test aircraft for evaluation. The contract also includes competitively priced options for low-rate initial production.