Boeing has been awarded the contract to develop the U.S. Air Force's next-generation fighter jet, the F-47, President Donald Trump announced Friday during an Oval Office address. Flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, Trump said Boeing emerged victorious after a "rigorous and thorough competition" among leading American aerospace firms.
"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... Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it'll be called the 'F-47,' the generals picked that title," Trump said. He added, "The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built. America's enemies will never see it coming."
The new aircraft will be produced under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, an initiative intended to replace the aging F-22 fleet and reinforce U.S. air superiority. The program, which envisions manned sixth-generation fighters supported by autonomous robotic wingmen, had faced uncertainty under the Biden administration. Defense Secretary Hegseth noted the previous administration was "prepared to potentially scrap it."
"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," the Air Force Public Affairs Secretary clarified in a statement following Hegseth's remarks.
Boeing's win is seen as a crucial reversal of fortunes for the defense giant, which has faced challenges in both its commercial and military segments in recent years. Lockheed Martin, maker of the F-35 and another key competitor for NGAD, lost out in this competition.
Steve Parker, interim president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, stated: "We recognize the importance of designing, building and delivering a 6th-generation fighter capability for the United States Air Force. In preparation for this mission, we made the most significant investment in the history of our defense business, and we are ready to provide the most advanced and innovative NGAD aircraft needed to support the mission."
Cost projections for NGAD had been a sticking point under the Biden administration, with former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall expressing concern over estimates of $300 million per aircraft, seeking a more manageable $80-100 million price tag. Trump's announcement signals a pivot back to prioritizing defense investments, with Hegseth emphasizing the message the F-47 sends globally: The fighter jet “sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we're not going anywhere, and to our enemies that we can and will be able to project power around the globe, unimpeded for generations to come."
The NGAD initiative will include collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) designed by Anduril Industries and General Atomics, integrating unmanned systems alongside the manned F-47 jets.
Gen. Allvin, who briefed Trump on the program, reiterated the strategic necessity of NGAD: "I'm convinced from the analysis that NGAD is necessary," he told Defense One. During the announcement, he remarked, "This is what peace through strength looks like into the future," thanking the president for moving forward with the effort.
The development comes amid heightened military activity in the Indo-Pacific, where China has unveiled multiple advanced aircraft, including new fighters and airborne early-warning planes. The Pentagon's latest report warned of China's increasing reliance on domestically built aircraft and drones to bolster its capabilities.
Industry analysts are closely watching how the Navy's parallel advanced fighter project, the F/A-XX, progresses in the wake of the Air Force's renewed NGAD momentum. John Phelan, Trump's nominee for Navy secretary, recently told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the F/A-XX promises "significant advancements in operational reach and capacity."
Jerry McGinn, executive director of George Mason University's Baroni Center for Government Contracting, remarked on the broader defense landscape, stating: "This, plus CCA, plus whatever becomes of Replicator, I think, all need to be part of the same conversation."
