President Donald Trump announced that Boeing will be responsible for building the next sixth-generation fighter jet, the F-47, for the United States Air Force.
During the event, which took place in the Oval Office, Trump was accompanied by Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who also praised the initiative. The president explained that this aircraft will represent an unprecedented advancement in military technology and that it has already been in secret experimental flight for almost five years.
The F-47 is described by Trump as the "most lethal aircraft ever built", highlighting that it will surpass any other fighter jet in terms of speed, maneuverability, and payload capabilities.
El secretario de Defensa acompañó a Trump durante el anuncio
According to the president, nothing in the world will come close to it in terms of combat and stealth capabilities. Additionally, the F-47 will replace the unbelievable F-22 and will be designed to operate alongside unmanned drones, enhancing versatility and efficiency on the battlefield.
Trump indicated that Boeing's selection for this project was due to a "rigorous and exhaustive competition" among some of the leading aerospace companies in the United States.
The company, which has faced recent difficulties due to a decline in commercial sales and safety issues, will receive a multi-billion dollar contract. Although the exact value of the contract wasn't disclosed, the allocation is seen as a significant boost for Boeing.
Boeing se adjudicó el contrato para la construcción del avión
The development of the F-47 is part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, which was suspended under the Biden administration.
Hegseth rightly criticized that pause, mentioning that under the Biden administration, the program could have been canceled, but Trump has revived it, highlighting the importance of maintaining the United States' military supremacy.
The United States Air Force, in response, explained that the pause in the program was strategic, to ensure that the right decisions were made and to accelerate innovation in critical technologies.
Biden suspendió un importante programa militar durante su presidencia
The F-47 will feature advanced stealth capabilities, next-generation sensors, and improved engines, although its design remains a well-kept secret. An artistic representation shown during the conference only revealed a small part of the aircraft, including its front landing gear.
Trump emphasized that the aircraft is the culmination of a significant investment in defense and that it will be an essential tool for projecting military power globally, sending a clear message to the United States' allies and enemies that the country remains committed to its global leadership.
The F-47, as part of the evolution of the United States Air Force, will not only be a symbol of power and deterrence, but will also have a geopolitical impact. Trump highlighted that the aircraft represents "peace through strength" and will strengthen the United States' ability to deter its enemies in the future.
Meanwhile, the competition for the F-47 contract also marks a setback for Lockheed Martin, which was recently eliminated from another competition to develop a next-generation aircraft for the United States Navy.
A su vez, Lockheed Martin ha experimentado la pérdida del multimillonario contrato y experimenta bajas en sus compras de aviones
This could affect sales of the F-35, a fifth-generation aircraft that Lockheed Martin has sold to several countries, including NATO allies. Recently, some nations, such as Canada and Portugal, have questioned the purchase of the F-35s due to trade tensions with the United States, which could open space for other European manufacturers, like Dassault and Saab, to offer alternatives.
Additionally, the news of the F-47 coincides with Elon Musk's visit to the Pentagon, who, as a close ally of Trump, has expressed skepticism about the need for manned aircraft, suggesting that drone technology could replace these aircraft in the future.
