Although the United States has released few details about the F-47, it cannot afford to take its time developing the fighter—a point that Allvin made clear in his keynote address.
In his keynote address at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference on Monday, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin told attendees that Boeing had begun production of the F-47 manned fighter that is the centerpiece of the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. According to Allvin, the prototype is on track to make its maiden flight in 2028—far earlier than most analysts anticipated.
Allvin stressed the urgency of the program, with the Pentagon racing to field the aircraft before any of America’s potential adversaries.
“It’s the platform that, along with all of the rest of the systems, is going to ensure dominance into the future. We’ve got to go fast,” Allvin said. “I’ve got to tell you, team, it’s almost 2026. The team is committed to getting the first one flying in 2028.”
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced from the Oval Office in March that Boeing had been named the winner of the United States Air Force’s NGAD program to develop a sixth-generation fighter, beating out rival Lockheed Martin. There had been previous rumors that one or more prototypes had already taken flight, but based on Allvin’s comments, Boeing is now building the first aircraft that will be employed in flight testing.
“In the few short months since we made the announcement, they are already beginning to manufacture the first article,” Allvin added. “We’re ready to go fast. We have to go fast.”
The Race with China for a Sixth-Generation Warplane
Reports circulated in December and again in March that China had conducted test flights of an aircraft dubbed the “J-36,” although its official designation remains unknown. Few details have emerged about the Chinese fighter in the months since, but it has made at least two publicized flights.
Although the United States has released few details about the F-47, it cannot afford to take its time developing the fighter—a point that Allvin made clear in his keynote address.
“It’s perfectly natural to say, let’s catch your breath a bit. Let’s sort of take stock of things,” Allvin added. “But in this environment, with the consequences on the other side of it, we have to beware of the familiar. Be cautious about the warm blanket of the comfortable. Because you know what? That may not be good enough. That just may not be good enough because the adversary is not taking a knee. … When the President asks tonight, next week, next year, next decade, ‘Can you still do that?’ We have to be able to say, ‘Hell yes we can.’”
What We Know About the F-47 So Far
Current plans call for the US Air Force to acquire at least 185 F-47s—intended to replace the aging Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fifth-generation air superiority fighter on a one-for-one basis, beginning in the early 2030s.
The F-47 is just one system of a wider number of systems that includes Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones, which will serve as “loyal wingmen” and act as a force multiplier for the manned fighter. As many as 1,000 CCAs could be produced. Two proposals for the CCA, the General Atomics YFQ-42A and the Anduril YFQ-44, are currently under development.
The designation may be a nod to the historic lineage of the World War II-era P-47 fighter jet—as well as to Trump himself, the 47th president. The F-47 is expected to be powered by an adaptive-cycle engine, either made by GE or Pratt & Whitney, and incorporate features that “enable dispersed operations,” including from austere environments. As a sixth-generation fighter, it is expected to be equipped with enhanced electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, advanced stealth features, improved sensors and networking, and increased range and speed.
The capabilities of the F-47 are likely to come into focus as the aircraft inches closer to that planned maiden flight in 2028.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
