The speculation floodgates flung open in the minutes following Boeing’s win of the U.S. Air Force Next Generation Air Dominance fighter contract.
Why it matters: The F-47, as it’s now known, is highly secretive. President Trump said he couldn’t disclose the per-tail cost because it would reveal “some of the technology and some of the size of the plane.”
- “America’s enemies will never see it coming,” he added.
But experts and fanboys are obsessing over every shred of evidence. Their findings give the wider public a better understanding of the futuristic fighter designed to collaborate with drones.
Here’s what’s been gleaned so far:
- It’s manned.
- It will cost less than the F-22, which it supersedes, according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. There are plans to buy more F-47s than F-22s, which were cut well short of 750.
- Early stages included X-planes from both Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The aircraft first flew in 2019 and 2022, logging hundreds of hours each, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Its involvement dates back to 2014.
- The F-47 is expected to fly during the Trump administration — in a little less than four years.
- Its designation is a reference to the World War II-era P-47 and Trump, the 47th president. In an Oval Office address last week, he said it was “a beautiful number.”
- The plane might — might! — have canards. Look near the spade-shaped nose. (This debate is getting spicy on social media.)
- It’s reminiscent of Boeing’s X-45 combat drone and Bird of Prey, a single-seat stealth demonstrator.
- The initial contract is thought to be $20 billion. That’s a windfall for Boeing, which has struggled in the commercial and defense markets, and a blow to Lockheed, which is now shut out of the public sixth-generation race.
What they’re saying: “We argued that Boeing was likely to win this award as its victory would ensure that the U.S. can maintain a diverse defense industrial base, specifically, in this case, the ability to produce stealth fighters,” Capstone investment researchers said in recent analysis.
- “The health of the DIB is a priority for the Trump administration.”
What we’re watching: How the Navy proceeds with its advanced fighter, F/A-XX. News could come as soon as this week, according to Reuters.
What’s next: Lockheed in a statement said it “will await further discussions” with the Air Force. It did not mention a contract protest.
