Boeing to build next-gen ‘F-47’ US fighter jet, Trump announces

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President Donald Trump announces Boeing was awarded a contract to build the F-47, a sixth-generation fighter jet

The president said the jet would be "the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built."

President Donald Trump announced that Boeing will build the next-generation fighter jet, the F-47, for the U.S. Air Force. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined him in the Oval Office for the announcement.

“I’m thrilled to announce that at my direction the United States Air Force is moving forward with the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet… Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it’ll be called the ‘F-47,’ the generals picked that title.”

Trump said that Boeing was awarded the contract after a “rigorous and thorough competition between some of America’s top aerospace companies.” The president also stated that an experiential version of the jet has apparently “secretly been flying” for nearly five years.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks, as an image of an F-47 is displayed near him, in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., March 21, 2025.  (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

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“The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built,” Trump told reporters. “America’s enemies will never see it coming,” he later added.

The Trump administration has taken a different approach to the Defense Department than the Biden administration, which includes a focus on establishing American dominance on the world stage. 

“We recognize the importance of designing, building and delivering a 6th-generation fighter capability for the United States Air Force. In preparation for this mission, we made the most significant investment in the history of our defense business, and we are ready to provide the most advanced and innovative NGAD aircraft needed to support the mission,” Boeing Defense, Space & Security interim president and chief executive officer, Steve Parker said in a statement.

A graphical artist’s rendering shows the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter, the F-47, which will be built by Boeing. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

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The F-47 will be built as part of the Next Generation Air Defense (NGAD) initiative, which was paused under the Biden administration. During the announcement, Hegseth touched on the program and said that the Biden administration was “prepared to potentially scrap it.”

The Air Force Public Affairs Secretary later responded to Hegseth’s remarks about the NGAD pause in a statement.

“In May 2024, the Air Force conducted a strategic pause in the program to ensure it was making the right decision for its warfighters and for the security of the nation. During this time, the Air Force continued collaborating with industry to aggressively mature critical technologies and accelerate innovation.”

According to Axios, NGAD is looking to have the sixth-generation fighters supported by robotic wingmen designed by Anduril Industries and General Atomics.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., March 21, 2025.  (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

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Hegseth praised the president for reviving NGAD, and said the fighter jet “sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere, and to our enemies that we can we will be able to project power around the globe, unimpeded for generations to come.” 

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, who was also present in the Oval Office, said that the aircraft represents what “peace through strength looks like into the future.” He also thanked the president and said that the F-47 would help the Air Force establish deterrence. 

Fox News’ Liz Friden and Grady Trimble contributed to this report.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.