U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Boeing will be responsible for building the U.S. Air Force's next-generation fighter jet. The Pentagon stated that this aircraft, named "Next Generation Air Dominance" (NGAD), will possess stealth and penetration capabilities far exceeding those of existing aircraft, making it crucial for potential conflicts with China.
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03-22, 2025Reportedly, this manned NGAD fighter jet will serve as the "quarterback" for future drone swarms, aiming to breach the air defense systems of China and other potential adversaries. The initial production contract for the U.S. Air Force version is estimated to be worth $20 billion (approximately AUD 31 billion). President Trump announced this news at the White House alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force leaders, jokingly stating that the new fighter jet would be named F-47.
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin stated, "We will use this aircraft to write the next chapter in the history of modern air combat." Secretary Hegseth added that the future fleet "sends a very clear, direct message to our allies that we are not going anywhere." This commitment reinforces the U.S.'s dedication to its global partnerships and defense strategies.
However, critics have questioned the project's cost and necessity, as the Pentagon is still struggling to fully produce its current most advanced F-35 fighter jet. The F-35 is projected to cost taxpayers over AUD 2.8 trillion throughout its entire lifecycle. Furthermore, the Pentagon's future stealth bomber, the B-21 "Raider," will also utilize many of the same cutting-edge technologies, including advanced materials, artificial intelligence, propulsion systems, and stealth technology.
Military procurement analyst Dan Grazier questioned whether "another exquisite manned fighter is really the right platform for the future" at a time when drones and space warfare are increasingly central to confrontation with China. Grazier, the director of the Stinson Center's National Security Reform Project, stated that AUD 31 billion "is just seed money, and the total cost in the future will reach hundreds of billions of dollars." Such concerns highlight the need for careful consideration of resource allocation in defense spending.
While Trump stated that early versions have been test-flown over the past five years, specific details about the new NGAD fighter jet have not been made public. Lockheed Martin and Boeing have both released renderings showcasing a flat, tailless aircraft with a sharp nose. An unnamed official stated that Boeing was ultimately chosen after the Air Force conducted an independent analysis, despite the company facing significant cost overruns and project delays on the "Air Force One" project from Trump. The official claimed that Boeing's proposal was still considered to be "the highest overall value to the government."
The Air Force has not specified how many NGAD fighter jets will be produced. However, Allvin stated in a statement that the F-47 will be produced in greater numbers than the advanced F-22 fighter it is replacing. Currently, there are approximately 180 F-22 fighter jets in service. The Navy version of the NGAD fighter jet contract is still being contested between Northrop Grumman and Boeing.
Last year, the Biden administration's Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall ordered a pause on the NGAD project to review whether the aircraft was still needed, or whether the project (originally designed in 2018) needed to be modified to reflect advancements in combat technology over the past few years. Think tanks and academia conducted assessments of conflict scenarios with China, considering both the presence and absence of NGAD, and ultimately determined that NGAD was still necessary. A defense official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Kendall subsequently left the decision of which company to build the fighter jet to the incoming Trump administration.
The official stated that NGAD will bring "a completely different level of low observability." It will also have a longer range than the F-35 or other existing fighter jets, thus requiring fewer aerial refuelings. The Pentagon is also improving the aircraft's artificial intelligence, and there are future plans to introduce an unmanned version of NGAD. This highlights the continuous evolution and adaptation of military technology to meet future challenges.
