Breaking: Boeing Awarded Contract to Build U.S. Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Fighter called F-47 - The Aviationist

Boeing Wins $20 Billion Contract for Next-Generation Air Force Fighter F-47

President Donald Trump announced today that Boeing has been awarded the contract to develop the U.S. Air Force's Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, now designated as the F-47. The announcement was made during a ceremony in the Oval Office, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin in attendance.

Trump revealed the first images of the aircraft, stating that "an experimental version of the plane has secretly been flying for almost 5 years and we're confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation."

The contract decision concludes months of uncertainty for the program, which had been paused in mid-2024 to review requirements and address concerns about its high costs. The initial engineering and manufacturing development contract is worth approximately $20 billion, with potential additional orders valued at hundreds of billions of dollars over the contract's lifetime.

A Critical Win for Boeing

The NGAD contract represents a critical win for Boeing, whose defense division has struggled with cost overruns on programs such as the KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueler and new Air Force One jets. The company has invested heavily in its St. Louis, Missouri facility, preparing for sixth-generation fighter production as its F/A-18 Super Hornet line is expected to close in 2027.

Boeing shares rose 5% following the announcement, while competitor Lockheed Martin, which was the other finalist for the contract, saw its shares fall nearly 7%.

Advanced Capabilities

According to Air Force leadership, the F-47 will represent a generational leap beyond current fighters like the F-22 Raptor. General Allvin stated in a press release that "while the F-22 is currently the finest air superiority fighter in the world, and its modernization will make it even better, the F-47 is a generational leap forward."

The F-47 is expected to feature "an entirely different level of low observability" and will have a much longer range than current fighter jets, reducing the need for aerial refueling.

The Air Force has been seeking an aircraft with the range, speed, and stealth to operate effectively over the vast Indo-Pacific region and against China's most advanced weapons systems.

Part of a Larger System

The F-47 will be the centerpiece of a broader "family of systems" approach, designed to work alongside unmanned collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs). In addition to the primary aircraft, the program includes future loyal wingman drones and advanced command-and-control technologies.

The engine for the aircraft will be determined through the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, a separate ongoing competition between GE Aerospace and RTX's Pratt & Whitney division.

Timeline and Production

According to General Allvin, the significant advance experimentation and work already completed on the F-47 will allow the Air Force to fly the jet by the end of Trump's administration. Full production and deployment of the F-47 is expected in the 2030s.

While the exact cost per aircraft remains classified, previous estimates have suggested prices around $300 million per plane—approximately triple the cost of an F-35. However, Air Force officials have indicated that the F-47 will be more cost-effective than the F-22 and that the service plans to have more F-47s in its inventory than the approximately 180 F-22s currently in service.

International Interest

During the announcement, President Trump mentioned potential foreign sales, stating: "Our allies are calling constantly. They want to buy them also." This suggests the possibility of scaled-down export versions being available to select U.S. allies in the future.

The award marks the most significant development in U.S. Air Force tactical air power in more than two decades and solidifies Boeing's position in the military aviation sector for years to come.

Sources

Here are the formal citations for the sources used in the news story:

1. D'Urso, Stefano, and David Cenciotti. "Breaking: Boeing Awarded Contract to Build U.S. Air Force's Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Fighter called F-47." The Aviationist, March 21, 2025 Breaking: Boeing Awarded Contract to Build U.S. Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Fighter called F-47 - The Aviationist. https://theaviationist.com/2025/03/21/ngad-awarded/

2. Trimble, Steve. "Boeing Wins U.S. Air Force's NGAD F-47 Fighter Contract." Aviation Week Network, March 21, 2025. https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/boeing-wins-us-air-forces-ngad-f-47-fighter-contract

3. Stone, Mike. "Trump picks Boeing over Lockheed for fighter jet contract." Reuters, March 21, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/trump-awards-boeing-much-needed-win-with-fighter-jet-contract-sources-say-2025-03-21/

4. DeFazio, Sam. "Boeing wins contract for Air Force's NGAD stealth fighter jet — now known as the F-47." DefenseScoop, March 21, 2025. https://defensescoop.com/2025/03/21/boeing-ngad-award-air-force-f-47-trump/

5. Hitchens, Theresa. "Boeing Wins F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Contract." The War Zone, March 21, 2025. https://www.twz.com/air/boeing-wins-air-forces-next-generation-air-dominance-fighter-contract

6. Baldor, Lolita C., and Tara Copp. "Trump announces Boeing wins contract for next-generation fighter jet." AP News, March 21, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/fighter-jet-ngad-trump-hegseth-china-55d7b3d15e5a4fa9cb061ec85ac19ae2

7. Insinna, Valerie. "Boeing wins contract for NGAD fighter jet, dubbed F-47." Defense News, March 21, 2025. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/03/21/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47/