e U.S. Air Force’s F-47 sixth-generation fighter remains on track to fly within two years, a senior acquisition official said on February 25.
Congress is considering adding major funding increases for Air Force programs in the fiscal 2026 appropriations bill released on January 20, including $900 million to preserve the E-7 airborne early warning and control aircraft and $500 million for the F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter.
The first F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter is already being built and will be ready to fly by 2028, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said on 22 September.
Lockheed Martin has said the US government is showing interest in its proposed “fifth-generation-plus” version of the F-35, which would incorporate technology from the company’s failed sixth-generation fighter bid.
The first flight of the US Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 fighter will happen sooner than many anticipate, according to Boeing’s Phantom Works division.
A new image shared by Boeing with Aviation Week shows a rendering of the proposed F/A-XX design, raising suggestions that elements of the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 could be influencing the Navy programme.
Israel is closely observing growing interest from Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, in acquiring the advanced F-35 stealth fighter from the United States.
Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet has renewed his proposal for a significant upgrade to the F-35 fighter jet, describing it as a critical “bridge” to the future F-47 aircraft.
The White House has cautioned that advancing the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX programme could hinder progress on the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 fighter, which it describes as a higher priority.
The B-21 Raider, developed by Northrop Grumman, is considered the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft and is currently undergoing flight testing.
Lockheed Martin has announced plans to significantly upgrade its F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, following the loss of its bid to develop the United States’ next-generation warplane.
The future of the U.S. Navy’s sixth-generation fighter aircraft, the F/A-XX, remains undecided under the Trump administration’s proposed 2026 defence budget.
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