United States President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced this week the signing of a US$20 billion contract with Boeing for the development of the F-47, the new sixth-generation fighter jet that will replace the F-22 Raptor in the U.S. Air Force.
+ Click here to watch the F-47 presentation video
The contract is part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program and represents a strategic victory for Boeing, which outperformed Lockheed Martin in the bidding process.
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The new aircraft, named F-47, is expected to operate alongside unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and integrate into an advanced air combat system focused on maintaining technological superiority over adversaries such as China and Russia.
Although design details remain classified, the F-47 is expected to feature stealth technology, advanced sensors, and next-generation engines.
The F-47 has reportedly been in secret testing for 5 years
During the announcement, President Trump revealed that the F-47 prototype “has been secretly flying for five years.” The statement fuels speculation about behind-the-scenes progress in the NGAD program and highlights the high priority placed on the initiative.
Following the contract announcement, Boeing’s shares rose by 5%, reflecting market confidence in the new project. Meanwhile, shares in Lockheed Martin, which lost the bid, fell by approximately 6%.
The contract marks a turning point for Boeing, which had been facing challenges in both its commercial and defense divisions.
With the new project, the company is expected to boost its fighter jet production facilities in St. Louis, Missouri, generating jobs and strengthening its presence in the defense sector.
NGAD program: the new era of air superiority
The NGAD is described by the U.S. government as a “family of systems” centered on highly advanced fighter jets, designed to ensure air superiority in future conflicts. The F-47 will be the flagship of this strategy, which could generate hundreds of billions of dollars in long-term contracts for Boeing.
In a statement released by the White House, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth highlighted the historic significance of the announcement. “This is a great day for our fighters,” he said. “We had the F-15. We had the F-16, the F-18, the F-22, and the F-35. Now we have the F-47.”
Hegseth also emphasized the role of the new fighter in the U.S. global deterrence strategy. “Our message is very clear: we’re showing our allies that we’re not going anywhere and that we have the capability to project our power globally for generations to come.”
Source and images: X @usairforce / @SecDef / af.mil. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
