F-47: US secretly testing its 6th gen fighter jet for years, here’s all we know about the most advanced fighter jet
A Fighter Like No Other
The F-47 is set to replace Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor, the world’s first fifth-generation fighter jet. While details remain classified, the aircraft is expected to feature stealth capabilities, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines, allowing it to dominate future battlefields. The program follows a “family of systems” approach, integrating autonomous drone wingmen, known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), to enhance combat effectiveness.
Massive Investment in Air Superiority
The engineering and manufacturing development contract for the F-47 is valued at over $20 billion, with total investments expected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars over the program’s lifetime. The Air Force seeks a fighter jet with range, speed, and stealth to operate effectively in the Indo-Pacific region—where it would counter China’s growing military capabilities, including its own sixth-generation fighter prototypes.
Trump’s Personal Stamp on the F-47
During the official announcement, President Trump highlighted the jet’s unparalleled capabilities. “It’s a beautiful number—F-47. It’s something the likes of which nobody has seen before. From speed to maneuverability to payload, there’s never been anything close to it,” he said.
The number 47 in the jet’s name appears to be a symbolic reference to Trump himself, who is the 47th U.S. president.
Has the F-47 Already Been Flying?
Trump also revealed that an experimental version of the F-47 has secretly been flying for almost five years.
He said, “The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built. It has been tested in secrecy and massively outperforms any fighter in the world today.”
A Clear Message to the World
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the announcement a “historic day for American warfighters”, adding:
“We’ve had the F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, and F-35. Now, we have the F-47. It sends a clear message to our allies that we’re here to stay—and to our adversaries that we can project power anywhere in the world for generations to come.”
The contract for the NGAD fighter was highly competitive, with Boeing and Lockheed Martin locked in a fierce race for the deal. Now, with Boeing at the helm, the F-47 is set to redefine air dominance for the U.S. military.
