Free Republic

Based on discussions with retired senior US military officials, the best chance for the F-35 Ferrari option is not as an option if the F-47 falters or is delayed. Where it may have the greatest utility, said one source very close to the program, is that technologies being developed for the Block 4 F-35 are close to the baseline for the very first models of the F-47. There is the possibility of a happy marriage there, I was told, that is the option with the greatest potential. Based on what National Security Journal is being told, if there is a...

The U.S. Air Force’s secretive F-47 sixth-generation fighter is a technological marvel designed to counter the growing threat from China. Expected to fly faster than Mach 2, the F-47 will likely be the stealthiest aircraft ever built, featuring a tailless, horizontal design. More than just a fighter, it will act as a “quarterback” for a swarm of AI-enabled drone wingmen. Its advanced sensors and computing will shorten the “sensor-to-shooter” timeline to milliseconds, and it may even be armed with revolutionary laser weapons, ensuring American air dominance for decades to come.

The U.S. risks losing its air superiority by 2030 if it fails to build its next-generation aircraft in sufficient numbers.For a “strategic restraint” approach, where the new F-47 fighter and B-21 bomber are not for global policing but for credibly deterring great-power war in the Atlantic and Pacific. To achieve this, the U.S. needs a minimum of 200-300 F-47s and at least 145 B-21s. These numbers are essential to absorb combat losses, reassure allies, and deter adversaries like China and Russia.

The U.S. Air Force’s plan to buy “at least 185” F-47 sixth-generation fighters is “dangerously delusional” and inadequate for a future war. To maintain air dominance against peer competitors like China, the U.S. needs a fleet of at least 400-500 F-47s. The current plan repeats the historic mistake made with the F-22 Raptor, where a small, boutique fleet was procured that proved insufficient for global demands.

While the F-35 is a capable 5th-generation fighter, it is a transitional “stopgap” that is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the evolving threats from China and Russia. To maintain air dominance, the U.S. must rapidly develop the 6th-generation F-47. The F-47 is envisioned not just as a faster, stealthier fighter, but as a “quarterback” for the entire battlespace, orchestrating drones, cyber operations, and other assets.

The future of air combat lies not in singular “game-changing” technologies like drones or AI, but in integrated, multi-domain systems like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This sixth-generation fighter, a tripartite venture between the UK, Italy, and Japan, emphasizes networked warfare, advanced sensors, and adaptable design to counter peer adversaries. However, its success is far from guaranteed. The program must overcome the defense industry’s historical challenges with procurement, cost overruns, and delays to deliver a truly revolutionary capability by its 2035 target, ensuring it doesn’t become another high-tech, low-impact “battleship” of the skies.

US President Donald Trump announced that Boeing has been awarded the contract to produce the US Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet, the F-47. The aircraft, classified as a sixth-generation fighter, is expected to be the most advanced fighter jet ever developed. "I'm thrilled to announce that, at my direction, the United States Air Force is moving forward with the world's first sixth-generation fighter jet, and nothing in the world comes close to it," Trump said at the White House. .... Snip.... Advanced capabilities and strategic impact The F-47 incorporates advanced stealth technology, artificial intelligence systems, and autonomous command and control...

A new image of the F-47 was unveiled on the announcement of the contract win. Credit: U.S. Department of Defense