The U.S. Air Force’s F-47 next-generation fighter jet program has officially entered the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase, with its maiden flight expected to take place in 2028.
General Dale White, Director of Major Weapon Systems, said the program has advanced into this critical stage with a high level of readiness, thanks to close cooperation with defense industry partners.
The new phase includes the development, integration, and testing of all aircraft systems. A limited number of prototype aircraft will initially be built and subjected to extensive testing and evaluation before full-scale production.
According to current plans, the first Boeing F-47 is expected to complete its inaugural flight in 2028. The U.S. Air Force intends to acquire at least 185 aircraft, which will gradually replace the aging fleet of F-22 Raptor fighter jets.
“The F-47 will fly during this administration,” White said during a conference hosted by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
The F-47 is being developed under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program and is intended to become the United States’ primary sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
The decision to move forward with the aircraft’s development was announced in March 2025 by U.S. President Donald Trump.
At the time, Trump said the F-47 would feature advanced capabilities in speed, maneuverability, and combat performance, describing it as an aircraft unlike any previously developed in the history of military aviation.
