Why the F-47 Fighter Is So Important: Air Dominance – the ability to control and “own” the air domain – is a prerequisite for victory on any battlefield. It protects friendly forces from air assault and allows tactical and strategic attack of the adversary’s fielded forces and vital warmaking infrastructure. Having Air Dominance does not guarantee military victory, but its absence spells defeat.
Neither Ukraine nor Russia have Air Dominance in the current conflict, and the result is a tragic, devastating toll on both sides, with no military victory in sight for either party. This is what warfare without Air Dominance looks like.
Meet the F-47 Fighter
The United States has had Air Dominance in all conflicts since WW II. But as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Dave Allvin, recently said, Air Dominance is not our birthright—it must be continually earned. Thus, the need for our nation’s newest, and first sixth-generation, air dominance aircraft, the F-47. Designed to replace the F-22, the F-47 will bring unmatched speed, maneuverability, range, stealth, and connectivity to the U.S. arsenal.
The recent announcement to select Boeing as the prime contractor for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft was notable for many reasons. First, President Trump stated that a version of the fighter would also be sold to our allies.
This is a brilliant decision, as it will increase lethality and interoperability of our allies and of the alliance. It will also help ensure U.S. leadership in the aerospace industry for decades.
Second, President Trump acknowledged that the fighter will operate in concert with “many many drones.” The previous Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, should be commended for his decision to pursue the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) – a program to develop at least 1,000 advanced, unmanned, lower-cost jets to extend and dramatically amplify the NGAD’s lethality.
Third, the President recognized that only through strength can we possibly hope to deter our adversaries from attacking the US and our allies. While our nuclear weapons provide the bedrock of strategic deterrence, our adversaries must know that our conventional forces will deny them victory.
The F-47 program will certainly run into technical hurdles, unforeseen costs, and schedule overruns. We should not tolerate such problems, but we should not be surprised when they occur. Rather, we must hold military, civilian, and industry leaders accountable. We must also have an acquisition strategy that incentivizes on-time, on-budget product delivery.
And we must expect China to develop their own capability to deny and defeat the F-47. They will continue to steal our technology and seek their own advantage at every turn.
NGAD Must Not Fail
There will come a day when we look forward to the next, Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft. For now, we must take all steps to ensure this one succeeds. It will require money, talent, creativity, accountability, and perseverance.
Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. (U.S. Air Force graphic)
As Secretary of Defense Hegseth stated, this program is a gift to our children and our grandchildren.
Current leaders have no higher responsibility than ensuring a safe, secure, and prosperous future for the next generation of Americans. The Next Generation Air Dominance fighter is one key to achieving this future.
About the Author: Shawn Barnes
Shawn Barnes is a Visiting Defense Fellow with the Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation.
