The F-47 is poised to be the best fighter the United States Air Force has ever flown, combining unprecedented stealth, extreme speed (Mach 2+), and vastly improved range, acting as a “quarterback” for AI-driven drone swarms (CCAs).
The F-47 will accomplish this while featuring modular, adaptable software/hardware and built-in resilience for easier maintenance, ensuring air dominance by out-sensing, out-thinking, and out-performing any adversary in contested airspace for decades.
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)
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)
The U.S. Air Force has chosen the F-47 as its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter. U.S. President Donald Trump signed off on a $20 billion contract with Boeing last spring, and the aircraft is already in limited production
The F-47 will eventually replace the F-22 Raptor as America’s air-superiority fighter. It will also maintain the United States’ superiority in fighter design and performance.
It replaces the F-22, focusing on longer reach (1000+ mile radius) and network-centric warfare, not just dogfighting.
The F-47 will render China’s fifth-generation J-20 and J-35A fighters obsolete.
The NGAD Has Been Flying: F-47 Takes 6th Gen to Next Level
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin, who joined President Trump at the White House last March to unveil the new fighter, released a statement after the announcement that offered a glimpse of what to expect.
NGAD Fighter from Boeing.
NGAD Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
NGAD image. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
“Despite what our adversaries claim, the F-47 is truly the world’s first crewed sixth-generation fighter,” Allvin said—taking a shot at China, which recently revealed several new stealthy-looking combat aircraft types, along with claims about the airframes that cannot be verified.
However, immediately after Trump’s announcement, several stories appeared, wondering out loud how the F-47 could compete with the new Chinese J-35A stealth fighter.
Boeing Says The F-47 Will Be “Transformative”
The head of Boeing Defense, Space & Security is so confident in the company’s ability to execute the F-47 program that he believes it will change everything.
“From my perspective, the F-47 is transformational for Boeing, as the first sixth-generation fighter that will ever be produced,” said Steve Parker, interim president and chief executive at the unit.
“What defines it for me is the investment we’ve made over a long period of time, over a decade-plus, in advanced materials, material sciences, advanced manufacturing, survivability, and lethality.”
So confident was Boeing about the F-47 that in 2024, it also made the risky decision to invest approximately $2 billion in a classified combat aircraft production facility before the outcome of the NGAD competition was announced.
Lockheed Martin NGAD Fighter. Image Credit: Lockheed Martin.
What Will Make The F-47 Better Than The Rest?
However, this raises the question: what exactly will make the F-47 so impressive? We don’t have details yet and are waiting to see exactly what it looks like. But this much is known.
The F-47, through its use of manned-unmanned teaming with drone wingmen, its advanced sixth-generation capabilities, including superior stealth and AI, and its role as a networked “quarterback” for a broader combat system, will shine in many ways.
It’s designed to replace the F-22 with a long-range, high-speed aircraft that can serve as a command-and-control hub, enabling it to perform complex deep-strike and ISR missions more effectively.
The Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) sixth-generation fighter, the F-47, will feature a combat radius exceeding 1,000 nautical miles, a speed exceeding Mach 2, advanced stealth capabilities, and a potential cost of around $300 million per aircraft.
Some details that we do know are added here:
Quarterback of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Formation
According to the graphic that USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Allvin showed at the White House, the Air Force plans to acquire at least 185 F-47s. This could provide it with enough aircraft to replace the Raptor fleet on a one-to-one basis, but that figure can be misleading.
The F-47 will control a swarm of AI-driven drones ( CCAs) from its cockpit. This “quarterback” role allows the manned F-47 to operate at a safe distance.
The new F-35 Lightning II stands on display at the First Aircraft Arrival ceremony on Nov. 2, 2024, at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The delivery of the F-35 ushered in a new era of modern-day warfighting for the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Richard Moser)
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II flies over the 56th Fighter Wing during Luke Days 2026, March 22, 2026, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Luke Days 2026 highlights the precision and professionalism required to generate combat airpower and sustain the nation’s defense. Currently in operational service, the F-35A integrates stealth technology and advanced sensors to detect and defeat threats while maintaining air dominance. Opportunities for the public to see military aviation up close helps build appreciation for the readiness of the joint force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Belinda Guachun-Chichay)
At the same time, the CCAs perform tasks such as penetrating high-threat areas, conducting reconnaissance, jamming enemy systems, or acting as decoys. The drones have autonomous maneuvering capabilities, and the F-47 receives data and provides command and control through a secure, jam-resistant link.
The F-47, the quarterback of several drone wingmen, with initial assessments suggesting that each new fighter would be paired with at least two, and possibly as many as five, AI-enabled drone wingmen.
However, more recent tests by Lockheed Martin have shown that the final figure could be significantly higher, demonstrating the ability to control up to eight drones from a single F-35.
That means each of the 185 new F-47s should be thought of as a fighter formation unto itself, rather than as a single jet.
What About the J-35A? How Does It Match Up?
In late November 2024, at the Zhuhai Airshow, China unveiled the J-35A, which looks remarkably like the United States’ F-35 fifth-generation multirole stealth aircraft.
Rick Joe, an expert on Chinese military matters, posted on X that three J-35As have appeared to date, all with slight differences, making him doubtful that “they’re operational in any frontline capacity.”
However, he believes the People’s Liberation Army Air Force may have received aircraft for initial operational testing and evaluation. Its current engines are WS-21 turbofans, though the intended engine is the WS-19.
When the J-35A first appeared, it was considered more than a match for U.S. fourth-generation fighters—the F-15, F-16, and the Navy’s F/A-18.
However, most aviation analysts doubted that it was a match for the U.S. F-35 fleet or the fleets of the 20 countries that operate the Lightning II. More than 1,325 F-35s are already in service around the world, and more are being built.
Lockheed Martin delivered a record 191 F-35s in 2025.
Brent Eastwood noted on 19fortyfive.com that while the Chinese promote the J-35A and the J-20 as stealth fighters, it is probably more accurate to characterize them as having “stealthy attributes.”
The F-47, on the other hand, is a significant leap forward. It will cement U.S. air superiority amid evolving threats. The NGAD program brings together a range of new technologies, including advanced jet engines, autonomous drones, electronic warfare systems, and sophisticated sensors.
The Chinese J-35A may be similar in capabilities to the U.S. F-35, but it will not be anywhere near as capable as the F-47.
Laser Weapons: A Possibility?
One possible weapon for the F-47 might be laser weapons. It is envisioned to integrate powerful, megawatt-class directed-energy laser weapons capable of precisely shooting down missiles and drones, complementing its advanced stealth, speed, and AI-driven capabilities for future air superiority.
These air-fired lasers provide instant, scalable, low-cost defense, require massive power, and fit seamlessly into the F-47’s design to enhance lethality and enable new operational concepts against advanced threats.
An F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., sits in a hangar ahead of operations for the F-35 Lightning II TDY, Oct. 28, 2021, at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field, Texas. The 62nd FS will be training with F-16s from the 149th Fighter Wing and the 301st Fighter Wing, along with T-38s from the 301st Fighter Wing. The multi-role capabilities of the F-35 allows them to perform missions which traditionally required numerous specialized aircraft. The complimentary air superiority capabilities of the F-35 will augment our air superiority fleet and ensure we continue to “own the skies” over future battlefields. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brian G. Rhodes)
Brent Eastwood wrote earlier this May that the F-47 could use directed-energy weapons against space targets. “A directed energy system is another means of continuing American dominance. The laser could “dazzle” or “blind” low-orbiting enemy space assets. Directed energy from the F-47 is thus a fundamental capability that could make it an airplane assigned to the U.S. Space Force, too.”
The Air Force Research Laboratory has been advancing with efforts to fire lasers from drones and fighter jets, and it is currently deploying ground-based high-energy laser weapons for base defense against drones.
The F-47’s Speed Will Be Mach 2+
The F-47 is expected to exceed Mach 2 (1,500 mph, 2,400 km/h), indicating high supersonic speeds. The exact speed is classified, but reports suggest it could be Mach 2.25 (approximately 1,726.35 mph) or higher.
President Trump said, “Its speed is top, so ‘over two,’ which is something that you don’t hear very often.”
F-47 NGAD Fighter Possible Image. Image Credit: Screenshot.
F-47 Infographic. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force
“It’s something the likes of which nobody has seen before,” Trump said. “In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there’s never been anything even close to it, from speed to maneuverability, to what it can carry as a payload. The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built.”
That speed is incredible for a stealth aircraft, but how can the F-47 maintain its stealth coatings at such a speed?
New Stealth Coatings
Stealth coating materials can deteriorate due to both speed and temperature. High speeds, especially supersonic flight, generate significant heat, which can damage or degrade the radar-absorbing materials (RAMs) used in stealth technology. Additionally, the materials are susceptible to damage from abrasion, moisture, and other environmental factors.
Many radar-absorbent polymers used in stealth coatings rapidly decompose at temperatures above 250°C. This necessitates careful design considerations to manage heat and protect the coatings. The new ceramic coating will be much more heat-resistant.
Scientists at NC State have been working to create a tougher skin with more desirable stealth characteristics. Researchers believe the new material will enable the aircraft to fly faster while maintaining its stealth capabilities.
Chengying “Cheryl” Xu, who is leading the program at NC State, said that “the material we’ve engineered is not only more radar absorbent, it will also allow the next generation of stealth aircraft to be faster, more maneuverable, and able to travel further.”
F-22 Model. Image Credit: 19FortyFive.com
Xu and her team have developed a ceramic material with an impressive array of stealth attributes. During lab testing, the ceramic was found to be more radar-absorbent than existing polymers, absorbing 90% or more of the incident radar energy.
The ceramic material is water-resistant and harder than sand. Therefore, it can better withstand harsh conditions, such as flying in desert-like environments or in the rain. More importantly, the ceramic retains its radar-absorbent characteristics over a wide temperature range, from 1,800 °C to -100 °C.
The ceramic coating can be easily applied to the entire aircraft skin. The liquid ceramic precursor is sprayed onto the aircraft’s surface. As the liquid precursor is exposed to ambient air, it undergoes a series of chemical reactions, converting it into the solid ceramic material.
The whole process, from using a liquid ceramic precursor to completion, takes one to two days, Xu said.
What The Coatings Mean For Stealth Capabilities
While the F-35 was described as a “stealth” aircraft, as were the CCAs, the F-22 was described as a “Stealth +” type. In contrast, the F-47 was described as “Stealth ++,” consistent with service comments that it would have to be substantially stealthier than the F-22 to survive anticipated adversary air defenses.
Alex Hollings of Airpower provides a detailed explanation of the complex calculations behind radar cross-sections and stealth.
“Radar cross sections are notoriously difficult to calculate and vary depending on radar frequency and angle of observation, but speaking in general terms, the F-35’s radar cross section is estimated to be .005 square meters – nearly half the size of the F-117 Nighthawk on radar scopes.
F-117 Nighthawk at National Museum of Air Force 19FortyFive Photo
F-117A Nighthawk at USAF Museum. Image taken by 19FortyFive Owner, Harry J. Kazianis.
“But the larger and stealthier F-22 Raptor is said to have a frontal radar cross section of an incredible .0001 square meters – an astonishing 50 times smaller than the very stealthy F-35.
“If that difference is encapsulated in the distinction between ‘Stealth’ and ‘Stealth+’ on this graphic, then it suggests the F-47 that is designated as ‘Stealth++’ may be the stealthiest fighter ever designed by a wide margin.”
“Air Dominance Is Not A Birthright,” The F-47 Ensures U.S. Edge
“Air dominance is not a birthright, but it has become synonymous with American air power,” Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin said. This program (F-47 NGAD) is “our commitment to the fight.”
“Compared to the F-22, the F-47 will cost less and be more adaptable to future threats—and we will have more of the F-47s in our inventory,” Allvin said in a statement.
“The F-47 will have significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, be more sustainable, supportable, and have higher availability than our fifth-generation fighters. This platform is designed with a ‘built to adapt’ mindset and will take significantly less manpower and infrastructure to deploy.”
The F-47 will be technologically superior to the J-20 in nearly every category. As a sixth-generation fighter, it is designed to outclass fifth-generation jets such as the J-20 and J-35A in stealth, AI integration, sensor fusion, and multi-domain warfare.
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About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a U.S. Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
