In March 2025, the U.S. Air Force made one of the biggest announcements in military aviation history: Boeing had won the contract to build America’s next air superiority fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. The aircraft was designated the F-47 — and early indications suggest it could be unlike anything that has flown before.
What We Know
Details remain highly classified, but Air Force officials have confirmed several key specifications:
- Combat radius: Over 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km) — more than double the F-22’s range
- Top speed: Above Mach 2
- Stealth: Next-generation low-observable technology beyond the F-22 and F-35
- Planned fleet: 185+ aircraft
- First flight: Expected 2028
- Operational: Targeted for 2029, with full fielding in the 2030s
The massive combat radius suggests the F-47 is designed primarily for the Pacific theater, where vast distances over open ocean demand long-range capability. This is a fighter built to counter China’s growing air power, particularly the J-20 Mighty Dragon and the upcoming J-36.
A Family of Systems
The F-47 won’t fight alone. The NGAD program envisions a “family of systems” approach, where the crewed F-47 operates alongside autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) — AI-driven drone wingmen that can scout ahead, carry additional weapons, and absorb enemy fire.
This concept represents a fundamental shift in air combat. Instead of a single pilot in a single aircraft, future air superiority will be achieved by a networked team of crewed and uncrewed platforms working together, with the F-47 serving as the command node.
Why Boeing?
The NGAD contract was a major upset. Many expected Lockheed Martin — maker of the F-22 and F-35 — to win. Boeing’s selection suggests the Air Force wanted a fresh approach and was impressed by Boeing’s demonstrator, which reportedly first flew in 2019 and has been conducting experimental tests since 2020.
The name “F-47” itself carries weight. A September 2025 concept patch from the F-47 System Management Office hinted at the potential nickname “Phoenix” — fitting for a program rising from the ashes of decades of air dominance debates.
The Competition
The F-47 enters a world where 6th-generation fighters are no longer just American. China’s J-36 was unveiled in late 2024, and Europe’s GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) and France-Germany-Spain’s SCAF are also targeting the 2030s. The race for next-generation air dominance is truly global.
Learn more about the F-47 NGAD and its predecessor, the F-22 Raptor, in our aircraft encyclopedia.