An artistic impression of Boeing's proposed NGAD aircraft. (Boeing)
US President Donald Trump announced on 21 March that Boeing will build the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet for the US Air Force (USAF). To be designated the F-47, the jet will feature enhanced speed and manoeuvrability, stealth technologies, and operate with fleets of drones, the president said during a White House press conference.
An experimental version of the aircraft has been flying for nearly five years, according to Trump. The value of the contract and price of the fighter was not disclosed.
“We believe that this provides more lethality, it provides … more modernised capability in a way that's built to adapt. This along with our Collaborative Combat Aircraft [CCA] … is allowing us to look into the future and unlock the magic that is human machine teaming” for the next generation of aerial warfare, General David Allvin, USAF chief of staff, said during the press conference.
“The manner in which we put this programme together puts more control in the hands of the government so we can update and adapt ... at the speed of technology,” Gen Allvin said.
The air force had delayed an NGAD contract award in August 2024 to “reconsider the design based on changing threats and affordability”, the service told Janes at the time. Then-Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall indicated that the cost-per-platform could be hundreds of millions of dollars.
In December 2024, Kendall further delayed the decision, deferring it to the incoming Trump administration.
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