We Are Here To Stay! America Gears Up For Next Gen Warfare with $20 Billion

President Donald Trump announced Friday that Boeing has secured a $20 billion contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet, dubbed the F-47, aimed at countering China’s advancing military capabilities. Unveiled at the White House alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force leaders, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program promises stealth and penetration capabilities surpassing the current fleet, positioning it as a linchpin in potential conflicts with China.

The NGAD, a manned jet designed to lead a fleet of future drones, will penetrate sophisticated air defenses, a need underscored by China’s growing aerial prowess. Trump, the 47th president, grinned as he named the jet F-47, while Gen. David Allvin hailed it as the “next chapter of modern aerial warfare.” Hegseth added it signals to allies that “we’re here to stay.”

Critics, including Stimson Centre’s Dan Grazier, question the jet’s necessity amid drone and space warfare’s rise, calling the $20 billion initial cost “seed money” for a program likely to balloon into hundreds of billions. The Pentagon’s F-35, still incomplete at $1.7 trillion, and the $130 billion B-21 Raider fleet, now in testing, share similar cutting-edge features.

Boeing’s win, following test flights of early NGAD versions over five years, edged out Lockheed Martin after an Air Force review deemed it the best value. The F-47 will outnumber the 180 F-22s it replaces, offering superior range and stealth. A Navy NGAD contract remains contested. The decision, greenlit after a Biden-era pause and review affirming NGAD’s strategic value, sets Boeing to shape America’s air dominance through the 2030s.