Forget the F-35: The F-47 Fighter Has A Mach 2 Message to Send to the World

Key Points: The new US Air Force F-47 NGAD fighter reportedly achieves speeds exceeding Mach 2, a significant feat if accomplished without compromising its stealth characteristics. 

-Achieving high speed typically generates heat and requires designs that conflict with low observability, unlike the F-35 (Mach 1.6) which prioritizes stealth.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team commander, flies over Kennewick, Washington, during the Tri-Cities Water Follies Airshow Over the River, July 30, 2023. The F-35 Demonstration Team participated in the 2023 Tri-Cities Water Follies airshow and various other events in support of their mission to recruit, retain and inspire new and old generations of Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaitlyn Ergish)

-While the F-22 hits Mach 2.25 with stealth, the F-47 potentially represents further advancement.

-However, the article emphasizes that air combat dominance isn’t solely about top speed; factors like maneuverability, advanced sensors enabling standoff engagements, and sophisticated weapons are equally crucial determinants of success in modern aerial warfare.  

The F-47 Could Hit Mach 2

The new F-47 will likely be faster than any fighter jet, yet there are too many unknowns, and unanswered questions will likely persist. 

However, according to numerous public reports and comments, the F-47 will succeed in flying at least Mach 2, a very significant speed, particularly when blended with stealth. An essay in NewsNation quotes Donald Trump stating that the F-47 will hit Mach 2 speeds.

Trump said, “Its speed is top, so ‘over two,’ which is something that you don’t hear very often,” the article says. 

U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson, F-22 Demo Team commander, performs maximum power takeoff during a demonstration for the 67th National Security Forum at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, May 11, 2021. The F-22 Raptor’s two Pratt and Whitney F119 Turbofan engines bring a combined 70,000 pounds of thrust, allowing the aircraft to takeoff straight into the vertical. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Don Hudson)

In reality, the technological breakthroughs woven into the F-47 are likely such that the aircraft’s ultimate speed may be much greater than Mach 2.

An achievement of Mach 2 for a 5th or 6th-generation stealth fighter is quite significant, as Boeing and the Air Force may have found ways to reach optimal, unparalleled speeds without compromising stealth.

This breakthrough is quite an achievement, as most aircraft capable of Mach 2 or faster, such as the US F-15 and Russian Su-27, are not stealthy. 

Stealth & Speed for F-47

Maintaining stealth at high speeds becomes more challenging due to the temperatures and heat signatures generated, so it appears possible that discoveries enable fighter jets to reach Mach 2 or faster speeds without greatly enhancing radar signatures. 

F-47 Fighter from Boeing. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force Screenshot.

The F-35 optimizes stealth and multi-role functionality, yet its maximum speed is Mach 1.6.

China’s stealthy, 5th-gen J-20 is listed with speeds of Mach 2.0, yet most fighter jets able to reach Mach 2 or faster are not stealthy, as reaching those speeds typically requires massive heat-generating propulsion and sharp, angular, less stealthy shapes, structures, and edges

Are there new methods of thermal management or heat-signature-reducing technologies?  

F-22 Speed

The F-22’s top speed is listed at Mach 2.25, making it among the fastest in the world. However, speed alone is insufficient to ensure air combat supremacy, as many variables inform this equation.

Thrust-to-weight ratio, high-speed maneuverability, and targeting are all determinative factors determining which aircraft may or may not prevail in an air-combat engagement.  

The F-22 has among the best thrust-to-weight ratios in the world, which means it can quickly reposition in the air to gain an advantage in a dogfight.

U.S. NGAD Fighter. Artist Rendering.

The lighter an aircraft is, with the power and propulsion of its engine, the faster and more effectively a fighter jet can maneuver. 

Sensing & Targeting

Then there is the simple question of sensing and targeting, as these factors can just as easily determine the outcome of a dogfight.

The F-35, for instance, has long-range, high-fidelity sensors such as the Distributed Aperture System (DAS), which can essentially “see” and target enemy fighters at standoff ranges where it cannot be detected.

High-resolution, long-range sensors can, in some instances, obviate any need to dogfight, as engagements can be won at standoff distances. 

There is also off-boresight targeting and weapons attack, such as what is possible with the AIM-9X fired from an F-35.

NGAD 6th Generation Fighter: Original artwork courtesy of Rodrigo Avella. Follow him on Instagram for more incredible aviation renders.

This targeting means a weapon can be launched and then change course in flight to attack a target beside or behind it. When combined with speed and agility, these attributes are factors likely to determine which jet prevails in an air-to-air engagement. 

At the same time, sheer speed cannot be underestimated as it enables a jet to simply outrun an enemy or escape without being damaged or destroyed if necessary.

There is also the speed of the attack element, as the F-22 is regarded as a “first-shot, first-kill” platform, meaning it can get into position to destroy an enemy and prevail before any response or engagement is possible. 

About the Author: Kris Osborn 

Kris Osborn is Military Technology Editor of 1945 and the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.