Boeing Wins $3.5 Billion Contract for US Air Force's Sixth-Generation Fighter

The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a $3.5 billion contract to build its sixth-generation fighter jet, the F-47. The funding allocation comes from the fiscal year 2027 budget request and represents a significant milestone for the Next Generation Air Dominance program.

The F-47 is expected to replace the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, the world's most capable air superiority fighter, with an initial operational capability planned for the early-to-mid 2030s. The aircraft will be designed to fly long ranges without tanker support and will feature advanced sensor fusion, stealth shaping, adaptive engines, and directed-energy weapons.

The Air Force plans to buy at least 185 F-47s, with a total program cost estimated at over $20 billion before production even begins. This amount is comparable to the entire Apollo program's budget in 1973 dollars.