The U.S. Air Force recently confirmed that the F-47—a sixth-generation fighter jet developed under Boeing’s leadership—has officially entered the “Engineering and Manufacturing Development” (EMD) phase. The U.S. military plans to procure at least 185 F-47s to replace its current F-22 fleet on a one-for-one basis.
Major General Dale White, the U.S. Air Force’s Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft, stated that the F-47 program is advancing with “unprecedented maturity.” The EMD phase will involve producing a small number of prototypes for core system integration and testing; the first F-47 is expected to conduct its maiden flight in 2028. Major General White emphasized that the aircraft “will certainly take to the skies during the current administration’s term.”
In March 2025, U.S. President Trump officially announced the advancement of the F-47 under the “Next Generation Air Dominance” (NGAD) program. He expressed high expectations for the aircraft’s speed, maneuverability, and payload capacity, asserting that its performance would surpass that of all previous fighter jets.
NGAD is a “Family of Systems” in which the manned F-47 “lead” aircraft operates alongside “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” (CCA) to execute missions. Featuring an advanced modular design and long-range strike capabilities, the F-47 is purpose-built for operations in high-threat, contested airspace.
As development progresses, the F-47 program has secured $3.45 billion in funding for Fiscal Year 2026, while the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 exceeds $5 billion—demonstrating the U.S. military’s determination to accelerate the fielding of this sixth-generation fighter.