The Pentagon’s next-generation stealth fighter, the F-47, is emerging as the centerpiece of U.S. airpower strategy. The project is backed by a projected $3.5 billion in FY26 funding and a high-profile contract awarded to Boeing.
This sixth-generation jet is intended to ensure American air superiority well into the 21st century. But as costs rise and timelines tighten, analysts and former officials are asking question.
Will the F-47’s ambitious promises outweigh its price tag?
An Expensive Bet on Air Superiority
In an announcement made in March, President Donald Trump’s confirmed Boeing as the lead contractor for the F-47 program. He called the aircraft “unmatched” in global capability. The Pentagon has said the fighter will feature advanced stealth, networked warfare capabilities, and a combat radius of 1,000 nautical miles. The U.S. Air Force’s most potent fighter craft till date, the F-22 Raptor’s has a combat radius of 590 nautical miles.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this optimism in testimony before Congress. He said the F-47 jet is “the most advanced, lethal, and adaptable fighter ever developed.” The administration’s recent budget allocates $400 million to jumpstart production, with a longer-term acquisition target of 185 aircraft.
But costs remain uncertain. Though Boeing’s initial contract is reportedly worth $20 billion, experts warn that the true price could balloon. The Congressional Budget Office previously estimated sixth-gen fighters could cost around $300 million per aircraft, far above the F-22’s $360 million per unit lifetime cost.
Tradeoffs and Strategic Priorities
The F-47’s steep price tag may come at the expense of other programs. The Navy’s F/A-XX fighter has been deprioritized, and the Air Force has slashed funding for its Next Generation Air Refueling System (NGAS). “We did make a strategic decision to go all in on F-47,” a senior defense official told reporters, citing industrial base constraints.
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, speaking candidly, raised concerns over the opportunity cost. “What’s the opportunity cost for this $20, $30, $40, $100 million… that we won’t be able to buy because we bought this?” he said, pointing to base hardening and space defenses as potentially higher priorities.
The Drone Wingmen Strategy
Despite questions over budget and feasibility, the F-47 is designed to work with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)—uncrewed, AI-powered drones expected to provide surveillance, combat support, or decoy functions. The Trump administration has proposed acquiring 1,000 CCAs, with testing underway and operational deployment expected between 2025 and 2029.
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Trump highlighted the concept: “The F-47 flies with many drones, as many as you want, and that’s something that no other plane can do.”
Timeline and Skepticism
The Air Force aims to deploy the F-47 within the current presidential term. But some industry experts remain skeptical. “The really interesting debate is: can the rather remarkable claims and early availability for the F-47 be realized?” said aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia. “If we’re looking toward the end of the decade, that’s no wait at all.”
While the F-47’s potential is significant, the program’s long-term success will hinge on balancing innovation with realism—and budgets.
Javeria Sajid is an Aerospace Engineering student from NUST with a background in technology and a sharp focus on the global political landscape and defence innovation. She writes to make complex defence technologies understandable, and aspires to bridge journalism, policy, and engineering in her work.
