WASHINGTON, United States – On Friday, President Donald Trump declared that Boeing has been chosen to construct the next-generation aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. The Pentagon emphasizes that this new fighter jet will possess superior stealth and infiltration abilities compared to the present lineup, making it crucial for possible confrontations with China.

Referred to as the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, this piloted fighter jet will act as the leader coordinating a series of upcoming unmanned aerial vehicles tailored to breach the air defense systems of both China and other possible adversaries. The preliminary deal to initiate manufacturing for deployment within the Air Force could be valued at around $20 billion.

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The 47th president, who unveiled the award at the White House alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top Air Force officials, playfully announced that the new aircraft would be designated as the F-47.

General David Allvin, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, stated, “This will help us pen the script for the next era of advanced air combat.” Additionally, Hegseth mentioned that the upcoming aircraft lineup “conveys a strong and unambiguous signal to our partners that we remain committed and steadfastly present.”

Experts have raised doubts about the expense and relevance of this new program, considering that the Pentagon continues to face challenges in completely developing their latest high-tech aircraft, the F-35. This project could end up costing taxpayers upwards of $1.7 trillion throughout its lifetime. Furthermore, the upcoming stealth bomber from the military, known as the B-21 Raider, will incorporate numerous state-of-the-art advancements in areas like advanced materials, artificial intelligence, propulsion systems, and stealth technology.

Over 1,100 F-35s have already been manufactured for the United States and several international allies.

A group of approximately 100 upcoming B-21 stealth bombers, with an expected overall expenditure of at least $130 billion, is also scheduled. The initial B-21 planes are currently undergoing test flights.

Fleet preparation

As drone and space combat become increasingly central to potential conflicts with China, Dan Grazier, a military procurement specialist, wonders if “an additional advanced piloted fighter aircraft truly represents the best direction moving forward.” Grazier, who leads the National Security Reform Initiative at the Stimson Center, noted that $20 billion is merely an initial investment. He emphasized that the overall expenses projected for this path could amount to several hundred billion dollars.

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Only limited information about how the new NGAD fighter will appear has been made available to the public. However, President Trump mentioned that initial models have undergone testing flights over the past half-decade. Illustrations provided by both Lockheed Martin and Boeing depict a sleek, tailless plane featuring a pointed nose.

Following intense pressure from Trump regarding cost overruns and schedule delays for Air Force One, Boeing’s choice was announced after an anonymous source disclosed that the Air Force had conducted an independent assessment. According to this confidential informant, the evaluation concluded that Boeing’s proposal offered the “greatest overall benefit to the government.”

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The Air Force hasn’t detailed the number of planes that will be manufactured. However, according to a statement from Allvin, they plan to produce more F-47s compared to the current fleet of around 180 F-22 fighter jets which this new model aims to supersede.

Later, the Air Force released a statement explaining why they chose the number 47. They said this choice honored several significant factors: “We commemorate the achievements of the P-47, which played an essential role in achieving aerial dominance during World War II and left an indelible mark in history. Furthermore, the selection highlights our founding year as well as acknowledges the crucial backing provided by the individual who served as the nation’s 47th President towards developing the planet’s premier sixth-generation aircraft.”

A distinct Navy contract for their variant of the NGAD fighter is still being contested between Northrop Grumman and Boeing.

NGAD review

Last year, Secretary Frank Kendall of the Biden administration’s Air Force directed a halt in the NGAD program. This suspension aimed at assessing whether the aircraft remained necessary or if changes were required to align with advancements in warfare over the last few years since the project began in 2018.

The assessment conducted by think tanks and academics analyzed how conflicts involving China might unfold with the involvement of NGAD and subsequently without it—concluding that NGAD remained essential. A defense official mentioned, under conditions of anonymity to share specifics about the deliberation process, that Kendall deferred the choice of which company would develop the fighter aircraft to the upcoming Trump administration.

The NGAD will introduce “a whole new dimension of stealth,” according to an official. Additionally, it will boast a significantly greater operational range compared to both the F-35 and other present-day combat planes, reducing the necessity for mid-air refuelings. The Department of Defense plans to develop an autonomous variant of the NGAD as they enhance the artificial intelligence capabilities for these aircraft, the official added.