Boeing has begun assembling the first sixth-generation F-47 fighter jet as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. The announcement was made by U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin at the Air & Space Forces Association conference, The War Zone reports.
According to Allvin, the company is building the first flight prototype under the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase. The first test flight of the F-47 is expected in 2028, although officials emphasize that the timeline remains tentative, since a number of subsystems — especially the engines — are still under development.
The F-47 is designed not only as a standalone aircraft but as the piloted element of a broader NGAD ecosystem. The program also includes integration with drone wingmen (Collaborative Combat Aircraft), advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, and battle management systems.
Officially disclosed specifications suggest the new aircraft will have a combat radius of more than 1,000 nautical miles and a top speed exceeding Mach 2. Details of stealth capabilities and other technical parameters remain classified.
According to U.S. Air Force materials, the F-47 significantly outperforms earlier models:
- F-22 Raptor (5th generation): combat radius ~590 nm, speed Mach 2+.
- F-35A (5th generation): combat radius ~670 nm, speed Mach 1.6.
- F-15E (4++ generation): combat radius ~690 nm, speed Mach 2.5.
- F-16 (4th generation): combat radius ~400 nm, speed Mach 2.
For the F-47, designers are targeting 1,000+ nautical miles and Mach 2+, making it the most advanced fighter intended to ensure U.S. air superiority for decades to come.
In the U.S. defense budget for fiscal year 2026, approximately $3.5 billion has been allocated to further development of the NGAD program, allowing work on the F-47 to proceed alongside other next-generation air combat components.