The U.S. is racing swiftly to create the next generation of fighter aircraft in order to maintain air supremacy for decades to come. At the forefront are the Air Force’s F-47 and the Navy’s F/A-XX—two sixth-gen planes crafted not only to replace decaying fleets, but to reimagine what air battles can be in an evolving and ever-riskier world.
The F-47, which is under the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, was just unveiled as Boeing’s triumph over Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. It was dubbed “the most dangerous aircraft ever made” by former President Donald Trump. Designed to replace the F-22 Raptor, this long-range, stealthy fighter has been flying in test experiments already for a few years. It makes up the core of a “family of systems,” flying with autonomous drone wingmen—referred to as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)—to extend range, survivability, and firepower in manners previous fighters were incapable of.
Boeing’s success is especially timely since its older Super Hornet production is winding down. The F-47 program is characterized as the company’s biggest ever defense spend by company leaders. The plane will come equipped with an adaptive engine from either GE or Pratt & Whitney and will be less expensive to maintain and more environmentally friendly than the F-22.
On the naval side, the F/A-XX will replace the F/A-18E/F and the EA-18G Growler. It will provide about 125% greater range than current aircraft, combined with AI-powered battle management, stealth, and in-flight refueling—ideal for operating over the wide distances of the Pacific.
Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly highlighted that F/A-XX will closely interact with unmanned aircraft, expanding carrier strike groups’ reach, particularly when combined with the MQ-25 drone tanker.
Boeing and Northrop Grumman are bidding on the F/A-XX contract following the exclusion of Lockheed Martin. Despite budget struggles in the program, Congress voted to provide $1.4 billion in funding to keep it going. Without the F/A-XX, the Navy cautioned that it would have to extend the life of older planes or spend money on more fifth-generation aircraft—both expensive options.
One of the central issues in both programs is whether the defense sector has the capacity to produce two sixth-generation aircraft simultaneously. Pentagon officials are wary of strains on production and budgets, although Boeing’s participation in both programs has the possibility to create some efficiencies if done carefully.
These jets are technologically well ahead of anything that is presently in service. Tailless designs, adaptive engines, sophisticated AI systems, and coordinated drone operations make them optimized for sophisticated, multi-domain battlefields. Unlike the F-35, which focuses on integrating across multiple domains, these fighters are being designed for autonomous, distributed operations from the outset.
The urgency stems from accelerating improvements in stealth fighter and long-range missile capabilities by potential opponents. Although the U.S. has current advantages, the disparity is closing, and officials realize that now is the time to act to preserve future air supremacy.
Another major emphasis is on unmanned teaming. CCAs can be used as scouts, electronic jammers, decoys, or additional missile carriers, providing greater flexibility for pilots and enhancing survivability in hostile airspace. This blending of manned and unmanned aircraft has commonly been regarded as the future of air-to-air combat.
In the end, this is about more than aircraft. It’s a test of vision, political will, and industrial capability. Today’s decisions will shape not only the next generation of warplanes but the very manner in which the U.S. fights, deters threats, and dominates the skies of the future.
