Summary and Key Points: President Donald Trump announced today the U.S. Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter will proceed, officially naming it the F-47.
-In a surprise move, Boeing secured the $20 billion contract, beating out Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works.
-The F-47 will feature advanced stealth capabilities, hypersonic missile compatibility, powerful engines potentially exceeding Mach 2, and drone-controlling technology, reinforcing U.S. air dominance.
-Despite previous concerns over budget constraints and delays, Trump’s backing ensures the project will move forward swiftly.
-This new aircraft could revolutionize aerial warfare and complement the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, challenging near-peer adversaries like China and Russia by the early 2030s.
Donald Trump Shakes Up Defense World with New F-47 Stealth Fighter
I did not see this coming. I have been following the Air Force’s Next-generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter for years and I thought that whole program was going to get cancelled because of cost and design problems.
Today, in a shot heard round the world that China and Russia was sure to notice, President Trump said that the NGAD is a reality. It will be dubbed the F-47, and the biggest surprise was that the contract is going to Boeing and not Lockheed Martin.
Boeing Takes the Prize
I explained in an earlier report today that Boeing has endured a rough patch recently with civilian aviation problems and its space program challenges. Lockheed Martin has the famous Skunk Works program to pump out whiz-bang fighter planes.
Plus, I surmised that there would not be enough in the budget to pay for the NGAD in the first place.
Moreover, the airplane was not even on Secretary of Defense Hegseth’s list of priorities. I’m not sure the SECDEF had even heard of the NGAD before he was confirmed.
But there he was smiling in the White House beside Trump in today’s announcement that happened around 11a ET. Trump exclaimed that it will be the “the most advanced, capable, and lethal aircraft ever built…nothing in the world comes close to it.”
If It Isn’t Lethal, Then Forget About It
Lethality is a theme for Trump and his national security team. If a program or contract is associated with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or other alleged “wokeness,” it is on the Pentagon chopping block as examples of non-lethal spending.
The Path Was Rocky
The NGAD has endured a tumultuous 12 months. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall had been a big proponent, but the cost estimate of $300 million a unit was leaked and that had Congress wondering if this 6th generation fighter was worth it.
Then it had design issues. But there were green shoots of optimism. Two prototype engines passed the review stages and there was hope this was a sign that the NGAD was going to take root. But time was running out for the Biden administration and Kendall’s tenure as secretary by December.
NGAD fighter from U.S. Air Force.
At the end of last year, the loquacious and candid Air Force chief said the NGAD would be on “pause” until the next administration would review it.
Donald Trump Says ‘Make It Happen’
I wrote that this review would take months since the NGAD had so many unknowns and a high price tag and that it wasn’t a Hegseth favorite. But now Trump got involved and decided this warbird was on tap to change the balance of power in next-generation warfare. He actually pulled the trigger on NGAD.
More About the F-47
The F-47 is considered a “family or system of systems.” It will likely be able to fire hypersonic missiles. The engines will be powerful enough for at least MACH 2 or perhaps MACH 3 speed. It can be a drone mothership that could handle operating Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones that can fly out ahead and collect reconnaissance data, conduct electronic warfare, and protect the NGAD with early warning ability.
Now the fighter jet could someday fly in tandem with the B-21 Raider stealth bomber. This is the part that China and Russia don’t like. Both airplanes could be nuclear-capable, carry hypersonic weapons, and evade radar for awesome ground strikes.
They should be ready by the early to mid-2030s. The B-21 is on time and under budget, and the NGAD looks like it is sprouting wings.
We will keep you updated on how the F-47 progresses and to see if Boeing can deliver the goods in a contract award that is being celebrated at the aerospace behemoths’ headquarters – maybe with champagne and caviar.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
