Trump Unveils Stealth F-47 Fighter Jet: Boeing's Secret Weapon in U.S.'s China Showdown
On Friday, US President Donald Trump stated that Boeing has been tasked with constructing the Air Force’s next-generation combat aircraft. The Pentagon emphasizes that this new plane will possess advanced stealth and infiltration abilities surpassing those of existing models, making it crucial for potential confrontations involving China.
Referred to as Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), this manned aircraft will act as the leader for a series of upcoming drones tailored to breach the airspace defenses of China and other possible adversaries. The preliminary contract aimed at initiating production for an Air Force variant is anticipated to be valued around $20 billion.
The 47th president, who unveiled the award at the White House alongside U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top Air Force officials, playfully stated that the newly designated aircraft would be called the F-47.
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General David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, stated, "This will shape the next era of advanced air combat." Additionally, Hegseth mentioned that the upcoming aircraft fleet conveys a strong and unambiguous signal to our partners that we remain committed and steadfastly present.
Critics have raised doubts about the expense and relevance of the program, considering that the Pentagon continues to face challenges in completely developing its latest cutting-edge aircraft, the F-35. This project is projected to cost taxpayers over $1.7 trillion throughout its lifetime.
Moreover, the upcoming stealth bomber at the Pentagon, known as the B-21 Raider, will incorporate numerous state-of-the-art technologies in areas such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence, propulsion systems, and stealth capabilities.
Over 1,100 F-35 jets have already been manufactured for the United States and several international allies. Additionally, plans include a formation of roughly 100 upcoming B-21 stealth bombers with a projected overall expenditure exceeding $130 billion. Currently, initial units of the B-21 are undergoing testing trials.
As drone and space combat emerge as central elements in potential conflicts with China, Dan Grazier, a military procurement analyst, has cast doubt on whether "an advanced piloted fighter jet remains the appropriate choice for future developments."
Grazier, who leads the national security reform program at the Stimson Center, stated that $20 billion is merely "seed money." He added that the cumulative expenses anticipated in the future could amount to several hundred billion dollars.
Little information has been disclosed about the appearance of the new NGAD fighter, though Trump mentioned that initial models have undergone testing for the past half-decade. Illustrations from both Lockheed Martin and Boeing showcase a sleek, tailless design featuring a pointed nose.
A distinct Navy contract for their iteration of the NGAD fighter remains contested between Northrop Grumman and Boeing.
The Air Force Secretary under the Biden administration, Frank Kendall, last year instructed a halt in the NGAD program. This suspension aimed to assess whether the aircraft remained necessary or if adjustments were required due to advancements in warfare over the past several years since the initiative’s inception in 2018.
The analysis conducted by research institutions and scholars looked at how a confrontation with China might unfold both with and without NGAD, concluding that NGAD remains essential.
Kendall subsequently handed over the choice regarding which company would construct the fighter jet to the approaching Trump administration, according to a defense official who spoke anonymously to disclose specifics about the decision process.
The NGAD will introduce "a significantly enhanced degree of stealth," according to an official. Additionally, it will boast a considerably greater operational range compared to both the F-35 and other contemporary fighter jets, thus reducing the need for mid-air refueling operations. The development plan also includes designing an uncrewed variant of the NGAD as part of ongoing advancements in artificial intelligence technology at the Pentagon, the official added.
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
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