The Boeing F-47 is an advanced air superiority fighter currently under development by Boeing for the United States Air Force (USAF) as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. This next-generation aircraft is intended to become the United States' first sixth-generation fighter, replacing the highly acclaimed Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Air Force leadership has expressed plans to acquire "185-plus" F-47 units. These aircraft are designed with a combat radius exceeding 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) and are expected to achieve top speeds surpassing Mach 2. On March 21, 2025, the Department of the Air Force officially announced that Boeing had been awarded the engineering and manufacturing development contract, which is valued at over $20 billion.
Experimental testing for the F-47 program commenced in 2020. By 2025, the first flight of the aircraft is anticipated in 2028, with operational capabilities aimed for 2029, and plans to field the aircraft in the 2030s.
In September 2025, a patch associated with the F-47 System Management Office (SMO) emerged on social media and was confirmed as an "early design concept" by a spokesperson from the Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC). This design concept suggested that the F-47 might be named "Phoenix." The accompanying Latin text on the patch translates to "We overcome, we persevere, we rejoice," reflecting the aircraft's intended mission and capabilities.
Development
The F-47 program is a cornerstone of the USAF's Next Generation Air Dominance initiative, which seeks to eventually replace the ageing F-22 Raptor fleet. This initiative envisions a holistic "family of systems" approach, emphasising a fast, long-range, stealthy crewed fighter designed for air supremacy, previously known as the Penetrating Counter-Air (PCA). In 2014, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched the Aerospace Innovation Initiative to create X-plane prototypes aimed at developing and refining next-generation fighter aircraft technologies. These DARPA-funded demonstrators would serve as full-scale flight models for the PCA, with Boeing achieving its first successful flight of a demonstrator in 2019. While the PCA was originally conceptualised to operate independently without the necessity for uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), advancements in automation technology prompted the Air Force to consider the integration of drones capable of accompanying crewed fighters. In March 2023, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced plans for an anticipated fleet comprising around two hundred next-generation air dominance fighters and 1,000 advanced drones designed to carry additional munitions or undertake diverse supporting missions.
The decision regarding the winner of the NGAD development contract was expected in 2024; however, in May 2024, Kendall paused the program as costs escalated, raising the price of each fighter to three times that of a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. This prompted an internal review aimed at assessing whether the NGAD program could maintain air dominance, considering rapid advancements in aviation and air defence capabilities, particularly those exhibited by potential adversaries.
By early March 2025, USAF leaders announced the findings of their comprehensive study, concluding that the NGAD program was essential for maintaining air superiority. "Bluntly, what this study told us was that after exploring a variety of options, no alternative could match the viability of NGAD in achieving air superiority in such a highly contested environment," stated Major General Joseph Kunkel, the director of Air Force Design, Integration, and Wargaming, during the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Colorado. General Kenneth Wilsbach of Air Combat Command further emphasised that the United States would need crewed sixth-generation aircraft to effectively counter the advancements made by Chinese sixth-generation aircraft.
On March 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump officially announced the advancement of the F-47 program, designating it as the centrepiece of the initiative. Along with this announcement, he confirmed the awarding of the engineering and manufacturing development contract to Boeing.
Air Force officials explained that the choice of the number "47" was intentional, as it pays homage to the legacy of the P-47 Thunderbolt, whose significant contributions to air superiority during World War II are historically notable. Furthermore, the number serves as a tribute to the founding year of the Air Force, while also recognising the influential role of the 47th President in supporting the development of the world's first sixth-generation fighter.
This contract is expected to invigorate Boeing's military aviation division, particularly its fighter production line in St. Louis, Missouri. Reports from Defence One indicate that Boeing has made substantial investments in its defence division to bring it back to financial stability and profitability.
The F-47 program has been using X-planes—experimental aircraft crafted to validate design and technological concepts—since 2020. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin stated that the F-47 is on track for its inaugural flight by early 2029, coinciding with the conclusion of President Trump's term.
As of September 2025, Allvin updated expectations, indicating that the first flight is now projected for 2028, and confirmed that the manufacturing of the first operational F-47 has officially commenced.
Design
While many specifics regarding the F-47's design remain classified, in March 2025, General Allvin revealed that the aircraft would possess a "significantly longer range and enhanced capabilities," among other advanced features that are still secret. The F-47 aims to integrate advanced stealth technology, super cruise capabilities, and an innovative sensor suite, enabling it to perform effectively in complex and contested airspaces.
