Air Force Chief of Staff Says the Service is Targeting F-47 Flights in 2028

The US Air Force is well on its way to flying its next-generation fighter, with the first of many F-47 jets reportedly in the early stages of manufacturing. The service is hoping to get the stealth fighter airborne sometime in 2028… a relatively ambitious target for a plane lacking a suitable engine.

Allvin was vague on what “beginning to manufacture” actually means and, while the F-47 only exists in prototype form from a shadowy testing campaign, he stressed that the service is “ready to go fast.” However, the absence of a working next-gen engine to go on the airframe suggests things may eventually slow down. The current plan is to fly with interim powerplants while the proper propulsion system, the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, remains in limbo until at least 2030.

The F-47, described as a leap ahead in stealth, sensing, and communication, survived a pause under the Biden administration before being revived by Trump officials. It even got the rare distinction of being unveiled in the Oval Office. Boeing is expected to take on much of the aircraft’s build out of its St. Louis plant and has already announced facility expansions to accommodate the program, though company officials had nothing to say about Allvin’s update.

Despite the Air Force insisting that the aircraft could be declared operational years early, Pentagon budget documents suggest that development is supposed to run through at least fiscal 2030. The announcement of a 2028 first flight is the first time the service has set an actual date, though it previously (and optimistically) hoped to get it airborne with Trump in office.

Allvin’s remarks came in the wake of his recent retirement announcement, making this one of his last public appearances as chief. He got to reveal the new and exciting F-47 news while Air Force Secretary Troy Meink spoke on the less mysterious modernization programs, like the on-track B-21 bomber and not-so-on-track Sentinel ICBM.

The F-47 itself is somewhere in between; technically underway, but still waiting on an engine that won’t show up for another five years. If nothing else, it may set a record as the most modern aircraft to taxi around on old tech.

FMI: www.af.mil