On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Boeing has won a significant contract to build the Air Force's new fighter jet, the F-47.

"After a rigorous and thorough competition between some of America's top aerospace companies, the Air Force is going to be awarding the contract for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform to Boeing," Trump said while speaking to reporters at the Oval Office. The contract is a strategic step to replace the ageing F-22 stealth aircraft, which has been in use for 20 years, with a more advanced fighter jet. For security reasons, the financial details of the contract have not been shared.

"Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it'll be known as the F-47, the generals picked a title, and it's a beautiful number, F-47. It’s something the likes of which nobody has seen before. In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there’s never been anything even close to it, from speed to manoeuvrability to what it can have for payload,” said Trump. This announcement is good news for Boeing, which struggled last year due to a long labour strike and safety issues. The NGAD program was put on hold in 2024 because of budget limitations. To tackle this, the Trump administration appointed billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to lead cost-cutting efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The F-47 is a new-generation fighter jet built to take over from the F-22 Raptor, a stealth aircraft that has been in service since the early 2000s. For the U.S. military, the F-47 marks a major upgrade, bringing the latest technology and advanced air combat abilities together. According to a report by AFP, the aircraft is designed to work alongside uncrewed drones, making it a flexible and adaptable combat system that can take on various missions. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David W. Allvin called the F-47 "the most advanced, powerful, and versatile fighter ever built," highlighting its ability to outperform any opponent. He also stated that the F-47 is the world’s first crewed sixth-generation fighter, designed to stay ahead even in the toughest battle situations. The US Air Force says the new aircraft will have a longer range, better stealth features, and improved durability compared to current fifth-generation jets.

The F-47 will also be more affordable than the F-22 while staying flexible enough to handle future threats. This development is part of the Air Force's plan to maintain air dominance as global challenges increase. Boeing and Lockheed Martin were in intense competition to win the contract for the NGAD program. The U.S. Air Force wanted a fighter jet with high speed, long-range and stealth features to perform well in the Indo-Pacific, especially as China strengthens its military. The NGAD program is a key strategy to counter China, which has already built advanced fifth-generation fighter jets and is now testing sixth-generation prototypes. During his announcement, Trump stated that an F-47 prototype had been in secret flight testing for nearly five years. 

 "The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built. An experimental version of the plane has secretly been flying for almost five years, and we're confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation," Trump said.

China's J-36, a next-generation stealth fighter bomber, is making headlines with its recent test flights. It has a unique tailless, flying-wing shape and three engines, which improve its stealth and agility—important features for modern air combat. Built for multiple missions, the J-36 may carry hypersonic weapons and drones, making it a powerful tool in strategic areas like the South China Sea. Its advanced technology allows it to work smoothly with unmanned systems, improving coordination on the battlefield.