US Air Force's F-47 Fighter to Fly in 2028 with Interim Propulsion
The US Air Force's F-47 sixth-generation fighter remains on track for its maiden flight in 2028, two years before its Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) engine is ready for integration. General Dale R. White, Director of Critical Major Weapon Systems Programs, confirmed this at the Life Cycle Industry Days event in Dayton, Ohio.
The Boeing F-47 will rely on an interim propulsion arrangement to validate airframe flight controls, software, and structural mechanics within a 36-month Engineering and Manufacturing Development timeline. This strategy prioritizes early air vehicle flight qualification while General Electric and Pratt & Whitney complete adaptive-cycle engine testing ahead of targeted 2030 aircraft integration.
The U.S. Air Force plans to acquire at least 185 operational F-47s, with the first aircraft expected to fly using temporary legacy or early non-production engines due to the NGAP engine's delayed readiness in 2030. This two-phase testing approach allows Boeing to evaluate core airframe performance across the 1,000-nautical-mile combat radius envelope while propulsion manufacturers conclude ground trials for the primary fleet.
The F-47 is being developed as a penetrating air superiority fighter with a planned combat radius exceeding 1,000 nautical miles, compared to 590 nautical miles for the F-22 Raptor and 670 nautical miles for the F-35A. The aircraft's increased range and speed requirements will be met while retaining a low radar signature for operations against long-range surface-to-air missiles and advanced fighters.
The planned force of 185 F-47s represents one component of the larger Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) combat architecture, which includes more than 1,000 unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). The distinction matters because it confirms that commanders will assemble formations according to mission requirements, assigning CCAs as forward sensors, electronic warfare aircraft, decoys, or missile carriers.