U.S. begins building sixth-Generation Fighter Jet F-47: First flight timeline revealed

WASHINGTON: The United States has taken a major step in its plan to secure the world’s most advanced air power as Boeing officially began production of the F-47, a sixth-generation stealth fighter jet.

The jet is the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. The announcement came during the 2025 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference, where Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin revealed that years of research, hundreds of test flights, and long hours of lab work have gone into the project.

“We need speed, because time is short,” General Allvin said. “The first F-47 will fly in 2028. Boeing has already started production within months, which shows our seriousness and urgency.”

The program was first announced in March by President Donald Trump, who confirmed that Boeing had been chosen to build the next-generation fighter jet. Unlike past projects, the F-47 is not just a plane but part of a wider combat system that includes advanced drones, engines, sensors, electronic warfare systems, and networking technology.

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Meet the @USAirForce‘s sixth-generation fighter, the F-47, bringing next-gen technologies to ensure air dominance for decades to come.#AFANational pic.twitter.com/eUEfW2JzD8

— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) September 22, 2025

Although full details remain classified, the Air Force has released two official concept images showing the aircraft with canard wings—a design feature that improves agility but poses challenges for stealth. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink joked that China’s intelligence analysts are probably studying the images closely but “won’t find much because we have hidden the important details.”

Officials say the F-47 will secure American air superiority for decades and could become a constant challenge for rivals like China and Russia. If all goes as planned, the jet will complete its first flight before January 20, 2029, the end of Trump’s current term.

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