U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin has confirmed that the F-47 next-generation air dominance fighter, developed by Boeing, is scheduled for its first flight in 2028. The announcement provides one of the clearest updates yet on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program—one of the most secretive initiatives in modern defense development.
Designed to succeed the F-22 Raptor, the F-47 represents not just an evolution but a transformation in air combat philosophy. The aircraft combines advanced stealth geometry, sensor fusion, adaptive propulsion, and manned-unmanned teaming to ensure sustained air superiority in highly contested environments.
Sources close to the program indicate that low-rate initial production (LRIP) has already begun under strict security at Boeing’s Phantom Works facility in St. Louis. Two prototype airframes are expected to enter ground testing by mid-2027, setting the stage for flight trials the following year.
Expected to achieve Mach 2 speeds and a combat radius exceeding 1,800 kilometers, the F-47 will act as the command hub for a network of AI-enabled Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)—autonomous drones capable of reconnaissance, jamming, and strike missions, either independently or under pilot supervision.
With an initial procurement goal of 185 aircraft, the U.S. Air Force aims to anchor its post-2030 tactical air fleet around the F-47, ensuring dominance in Indo-Pacific and other high-threat regions. Analysts suggest the total cost of the F-47 and CCA ecosystem could surpass that of current fifth-generation fighter programs, but the Pentagon views it as essential for maintaining strategic parity with China and Russia.
For Boeing, the F-47 project marks a major re-entry into the tactical fighter market after decades of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 leadership. The program also highlights a broader shift toward digital engineering, AI integration, and open-architecture mission systems, laying the foundation for future sixth-generation designs.
Built for tomorrow’s battlespace—one defined by electronic warfare, GPS denial, and integrated air defenses—the F-47 will deliver adaptable stealth, multispectral sensors, and rapid upgradeability through modular systems.
By confirming a 2028 first flight, the Air Force demonstrates confidence in the NGAD timeline and underscores the urgency of fielding a new generation of air dominance capabilities. With testing of its autonomous “drone wingmen” expected to accelerate through 2026–2027, the F-47 program signals that the United States intends not just to maintain air superiority—but to redefine it.
