All articles tagged with #f 47
The U.S. Air Force and Boeing say the F-47 sixth-generation fighter’s design is progressing on schedule, with a first flight expected within two years as tech maturation and risk reduction pay off; the Navy’s similar program faces delays tied to defense-industrial-base concerns, while the Air Force focuses on attracting talent and expanding production capacity to hit flight, software and other milestones.
Pratt & Whitney’s release about the XA103 adaptive-cycle engine includes imagery of a sixth‑generation, tailless, blended‑wing fighter with front canards, dorsal refueling, and thrust‑vectoring exhaust—design elements closely aligned with the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program and the anticipated F‑47. While officials say the rendering is not a formal reveal, the visuals suggest the propulsion and airframe concepts intended for NGAD, which envisions a crewed fighter operating as part of a “family of systems” with unmanned aircraft. Boeing was selected to develop NGAD in 2025, with first flight targeted around 2028 and fielding in the 2030s.
Lawmakers released a conference version of the fiscal 2026 defense bill totaling $839 billion, restoring funding for the Navy’s F/A-XX and increasing the Air Force’s F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance program, including about $3.9 billion for both programs (roughly $3B for the F-47 and $972M for the F/A-XX). The bill also preserves the E-7 Wedgetail at about $1.1B, aligns F-35 purchases with Pentagon plans (47 aircraft in 2026) while funding sustainment and Block 4 upgrades, backs Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider at $1.9B, and expands shipbuilding and missile programs, including the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.
U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly offered Japan the F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter, potentially providing Japan with an alternative to the delayed Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). Japan is also considering increasing its F-35 purchases or upgrading existing fighters, amid concerns about GCAP's timeline. The F-47, based on the NGAD program, could be a costlier but advanced option, strengthening U.S.-Japan military ties and offering Japan a chance to operate top-tier U.S. fighters. The decision hinges on cost, strategic needs, and the future of the GCAP initiative.