US Air Force New 6th Generation Fighter Jet To Replace The F-22 Raptor
The U.S. Air Force’s planned sixth-generation fighter, known as NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance), will ultimately replace the F-22 Raptor—not immediately, but over time, based on readiness and development schedules (The National Interest).
🛩️ What is NGAD and the F‑47?
- The NGAD program, ongoing since around 2014 under DARPA’s Air Dominance Initiative, aims to deliver a crew‑centric sixth‑generation fighter (Penetrating Counter‑Air/PCA) complemented by Loyal Wingman drones (Wikipedia).
- In March 2025, Boeing was awarded the NGAD contract to build the F‑47, marking it as the first U.S. sixth-generation fighter (Wikipedia).
Key Highlights:
- Name: F‑47 — announced March 21, 2025; the designation “47” honors both Trump (the 47th President) and U.S. Air Force heritage (The War Zone).
- Manufacturer: Boeing
- Crew: Single-pilot
- First Flight Tests: Experimental X-plane flights since 2020–2021 (Wikipedia)
- Projected Service Entry: Late 2020s (between 2025–2029) (Wikipedia)
- Planned Procurement: ~185–200 aircraft, with capability for expansion (Wikipedia)
🔧 Performance vs. F‑22
| Feature | F‑22 Raptor | F‑47 (NGAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Stealth & Sensors | Fifth-gen stealth | Next-gen stealth + advanced sensor fusion (Air & Space Forces Magazine) |
| Range | ~1,850 miles with tanks | >1,000 nmi combat radius; possibly multiple variants (Wikipedia, Air & Space Forces Magazine) |
| Speed | Mach 2+ | Mach 2+ (Wikipedia, Air & Space Forces Magazine) |
| Systems Integration | Manned only | Manned + Loyal Wingman drone support (The National Interest, Wikipedia) |
| Cost & Availability | Expensive (~$350 M including R&D) | Promised lower per-unit and sustainment cost (Air & Space Forces Magazine, Wikipedia, U.S. Air |
⏳ Timeline & Raptor Bridge Strategy
- F-22 Modernization: Ongoing upgrades (electronic warfare, stealth coatings, IR detection) funded through FY2029 are keeping the Raptor relevant (The War Zone).
- NGAD Transition: As the F‑47 matures (tests begin late 2020s), it will gradually replace the F‑22 fleet.
- Bridge Aircraft: Lockheed Martin is also pursuing an enhanced F‑35 “5‑plus” version as a bridging solution until the F‑47 reaches full operational capability (U.S. Air Force, The War Zone).
✅ Summary
- F‑22 Retirement: The Raptors won’t vanish by 2030, as once expected—they’ll continue flying (and being upgraded) well into the late 2020s (TS2 Space, The War Zone).
- F‑47 Takes Over: Boeing’s F‑47, heading into full development in 2025, is designed to succeed the F‑22, delivering superior range, stealth, adaptability, and integration with unmanned systems (Wikipedia).
- Bridge Strategy: The F‑22 and upgraded F‑35s will hold the line while NGAD is finalized.
If you’d like, I can dive deeper—like exploring the drone + manned pairing concept, timeline forecasts, or Boeing vs Lockheed NGAD competition. Just let me know!
