Boeing has been selected to lead the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, a multibillion-dollar initiative to develop a successor to the F-22 Raptor. The announcement was made by former President Donald Trump, who confirmed Boeing’s role in the project.
The new aircraft, reportedly designated the F-47, is expected to feature advanced stealth, sensors, next-generation propulsion, and manned-unmanned teaming. The NGAD program could grow to hundreds of billions in long-term procurement.
Lockheed Martin, the developer of the F-22 and F-35, responded to the decision:
“While disappointed with this outcome, we are confident we delivered a competitive solution.”
The company added:
“We are committed to advancing the state of the art in air dominance to ensure America has the most revolutionary systems to counter the rapidly evolving threat environment.”
“Lockheed Martin continues to work to advance critical technologies to outpace emerging threats and deliver true 21st Century Security solutions to our nation’s military forces.”
The NGAD program is central to the Air Force’s strategy for future air combat, focusing on technological superiority and integration with autonomous systems.