US President Donald Trump has awarded Boeing a $20 billion contract to develop the F-47, the US Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet, marking a major win for the struggling aerospace giant.
The contract, part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, aims to replace the F-22 Raptor with a sixth-generation aircraft that will operate alongside drones. While details of the design remain classified, the F-47 is expected to feature stealth capabilities, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines.
“This will be the most advanced fighter in the world,” Trump stated in the Oval Office, adding that foreign allies have already shown interest in purchasing the aircraft.
Boeing’s victory over Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-22 and F-35, has sent Boeing’s stock up by 5%, while Lockheed’s shares dropped nearly 6%. The deal is projected to bring hundreds of billions of dollars in future orders over the coming decades.
Lockheed, facing increasing uncertainty in the high-end fighter market, may protest the decision, but Trump’s public announcement of the deal could limit the chances of a formal challenge.
