Image Courtesy: USAF

Boeing has started building prototype aircraft for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation F-47 stealth fighter, marking a major milestone in the service’s ambitious effort to field a sixth-generation combat aircraft. Air Force officials say the program remains on schedule, with the first flight expected in 2028.

The F-47 has entered the engineering and manufacturing development phase, shifting the program from years of research and design into full-scale prototype construction. These aircraft will undergo extensive testing before the fighter eventually enters operational service.

The F-47 is the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program and is intended to replace the F-22 Raptor, which has served as America’s premier air-superiority fighter since 2005. Unlike previous fighter programs, the aircraft is designed to operate as the command hub of a broader combat network that includes autonomous drones, satellites, airborne sensors, and advanced communications systems.

As prototype construction progresses, engineers will integrate the fighter’s stealth airframe, propulsion system, avionics, onboard computing, and mission software. The upcoming flight-test campaign will evaluate aerodynamic performance, stealth capabilities, weapons integration, software reliability, and overall mission effectiveness before production begins.

One of the F-47’s defining features is its ability to work alongside Collaborative Combat Aircraft, autonomous drones that can perform reconnaissance, electronic warfare, decoy missions, and precision strikes under the supervision of a human pilot. Artificial intelligence is also expected to help process battlefield data, identify threats, and coordinate operations with these unmanned systems.

Although most technical specifications remain classified, Air Force officials say the aircraft is being designed for greater range and survivability, particularly for potential operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region. Gen. Dale White, director of Critical Major Weapon Systems, recently confirmed that “The F-47 will fly in this administration.”

For Boeing, the program represents one of its most significant defense contracts in decades and is expected to support thousands of jobs across its manufacturing network. Following the first flight in 2028, engineers will spend several years validating the aircraft’s performance before it enters operational service.