Washington, USA – On Friday, March 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that Boeing has secured a monumental $20 billion contract to develop the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet, a move aimed at countering China’s growing military presence in the Pacific. The announcement, made in the Oval Office alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force leadership, marks a significant step in modernizing America’s aerial arsenal.
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The new aircraft, dubbed the F-47 in a nod to Trump’s status as the 47th president, promises a technological leap forward with cutting-edge stealth capabilities and integration with a fleet of advanced drones. Designed to penetrate contested airspace undetected, the fighter jet boasts enhanced combat power and surveillance features, positioning it as a cornerstone of future U.S. military strategy. “This is next level,” Trump declared with a grin. “Level five is good—this is level six.”
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin hailed the project as a game-changer, stating, “We’re going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare with this.” Defense Secretary Hegseth echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the geopolitical signal it sends: “This future fleet sends a very clear, direct message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere.”
The decision comes amid intense debate over the program’s cost and relevance. Critics point to the Pentagon’s struggles with the F-35, its current flagship fighter jet, which has ballooned to an estimated lifecycle cost of $1.7 trillion despite producing over 1,100 aircraft for the U.S. and its allies. Meanwhile, the Air Force is also investing heavily in the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, a $130 billion program for a fleet of about 100 aircraft, with the first units already in test flights. Both the F-35 and B-21 incorporate advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and stealth technologies similar to those planned for the F-47.
Military procurement analyst Dan Grazier, director of the national security reform program at the Stimson Center, questioned the necessity of another high-cost manned fighter jet. “With evolving drone and space warfare likely to be the center of any fight with China, is another exquisite manned fighter jet really the right platform going forward?” Grazier argued. He cautioned that the $20 billion contract is merely “seed money,” with total costs potentially reaching “hundreds of billions of dollars” over time.
Details about the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter remain scarce, though Trump revealed that early prototypes have been undergoing test flights for the past five years. Conceptual renderings from Boeing and rival Lockheed Martin depict a sleek, tailless aircraft with a sharp nose, optimized for stealth and agility. The Air Force has not disclosed the exact number of F-47s to be built, but Gen. Allvin confirmed it would exceed the 180 F-22 Raptors currently in service, which the new jet is set to replace.
Boeing’s selection follows a competitive process overseen by the Air Force, which included an independent analysis to determine the “best overall value to the government,” according to an official speaking anonymously. The decision is notable given Trump’s past criticism of Boeing over cost overruns and delays on the Air Force One program. Lockheed Martin, a key player in the F-35 and F-22 programs, was also in contention but ultimately lost out.
The NGAD program faced uncertainty under the Biden administration, when Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall paused its development in 2024 to reassess its strategic value. A subsequent review by think tanks and academic experts evaluated the aircraft’s role in a potential conflict with China, concluding that the NGAD remained essential. Kendall deferred the final contractor decision to the incoming Trump administration, according to a defense official.
As the Pentagon balances its ambitious modernization efforts, the F-47 contract underscores Trump’s commitment to bolstering U.S. military might. However, with escalating costs and shifting warfare paradigms, the program’s long-term success—and its ability to outpace China’s advances—remains under scrutiny.
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