Trump, the 47th President, Stresses
"Lower Production Cost Than the F-22"
An artist's rendering of the 6th generation fighter jet F-47, released by the U.S. Air Force on the 21st (local time). Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the development plan for the next-generation fighter jet 'F-47' and revealed that Boeing, which is facing financial difficulties, has been selected as the contractor. The new fighter jet will feature advanced capabilities but is characterized by a lower production cost compared to the existing U.S. 5th-generation main fighter, the F-22.
According to CNN on the 23rd (local time), President Trump, along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and others, announced the F-47 development project at the White House Oval Office. President Trump stated, "After a rigorous and thorough competition, the U.S. Air Force has selected Boeing as the contractor for the next-generation fighter jet project," adding, "This fighter jet is the world's first 6th-generation fighter, with test versions having flown secretly for about five years."
The U.S. Air Force originally initiated the 6th-generation fighter development project in 2016, called the 'Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD)' project. At that time, not only Boeing but also competitors such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin participated to win the project. Later, in 2023, Northrop Grumman withdrew from the project, narrowing the competition to Boeing and Lockheed Martin. With Boeing now designated as the final contractor, the development project is expected to accelerate.
The naming of the aircraft as F-47 is also noteworthy. Generally, fighter jet designations are assigned temporarily after prototypes are produced and officially named upon deployment, but this time the name was given from the start. When asked why it was named F-47, President Trump only mentioned, "47 is a beautiful number." However, inside and outside U.S. political circles, it is interpreted as a name commemorating Trump’s election as the 47th President of the United States.
While the specific combat capabilities of the F-47 have not yet been disclosed, the U.S. Air Force emphasizes that it is a plane on a different level from the F-22. David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, who attended the announcement, said, "If the F-22 is the best air superiority fighter currently in existence, the F-47 represents a generational leap and a fighter for future warfare," emphasizing, "It has longer range than the F-22, advanced stealth capabilities, sustainability, supportability, higher availability, and is also more affordable."
The U.S. Air Force expects the F-47 to be deployed in the mid-2030s, with an estimated unit price of around $200 million (approximately 300 billion KRW). Considering that the highest specification price of the F-22 is $350 million (approximately 513 billion KRW), the production cost is expected to decrease significantly. The U.S. Air Force currently operates about 180 F-22s.
Attention is also focused on whether Boeing, which has been struggling financially due to various aviation accidents and setbacks, can improve its performance through the F-47. After the announcement of the next-generation fighter development project on the 21st, Boeing’s stock price rose 3.06% in one day to $178.11. It is seen as an opportunity for Boeing to mark a new turning point in the fighter jet business, where it had been lagging behind competitors Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman in the defense sector.
Josh Sullivan, a Benchmark analyst, told MarketWatch, "This is a much-needed win for Boeing, which is making turnaround efforts," explaining, "It breathes new life into their aging military aircraft portfolio."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
