On September 22, US Air Force Chief of Staff - General David Allvin - confirmed that the 6th generation fighter jet manufacturing program named F-47 has officially entered the production stage. This is the aircraft line expected to replace the F-22 Raptor, while creating a superior advantage for the US in the global military competition.
According to Mr. Allvin, the Pentagon's goal is to take the F-47 off for the first time in 2028. However, he admitted that this plan is very ambitious because some advanced jet engine technologies are uncertain to be completed within the set time frame.
The F-47 is part of the next-generation Air Defense Administration (NGAD) program, focusing on developing features far surpassing the current F-35 series.
The F-47 is said to have maximum in life, integrated with artificial intelligence to support pilots, equipped with a new generation of sensor systems and data linkage, allowing coordination with drones in modern combat.
The program has been stalled under the Joe Biden administration due to concerns about too much cost. However, under President Donald Trump, the NGAD was restarted and became one of the top priority defense projects. The announcement of the start of production of the F-47 is a "hard signal" affirming that the US must not fall behind in the race with China and Russia in developing the 6th generation aircraft.
Analysts believe that if the F-47 meets the roadmap, it will become the world's most modern fighter by the end of this decade. However, the cost for NGAD is expected to exceed hundreds of billions of USD, posing a major challenge in the defense budget.
Despite many difficulties ahead, the announcement of the F-47 production start shows that the US is determined to pursue advanced military technology, considering this a key factor to maintain the air force advantage for many decades to come.
