The United States has begun construction of its most advanced fighter aircraft yet, the F-47, marking a major leap in the global race for air superiority. Boeing, the defense contractor awarded a $20 billion contract earlier this year, has already started building the first test article. U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin confirmed the progress during the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland, saying, “In the few short months since we made the announcement, they are already beginning to manufacture the first article. We’re ready to go fast. We have to go fast.”

This announcement comes at a time when Washington and Beijing are vying to be the first to field a fully operational sixth-generation fighter, a capability that could determine which country holds the edge in future conflicts.

A Sixth-Generation Leap Forward

The F-47, previously known as the Next Generation Air Dominance platform, is intended to replace the F-22 Raptor as America’s top air superiority aircraft. It is designed with features that make it a clear break from the fifth-generation models already in service. These include advanced stealth technologies, the integration of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the ability to command semi-autonomous drone wingmen in combat.

Concept renderings suggest a combat radius exceeding 1,000 nautical miles and speeds faster than Mach 2. The Air Force has stated that the F-47 will have a “significantly longer range” than the F-22 and will be more adaptable to changing threats. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall explained that the aircraft will bring “next-generation stealth, sensor fusion, and long-range strike capabilities to counter the most sophisticated adversaries in contested environments.”

President Donald Trump, who revived the program after a pause during the Biden administration, described the project in stark terms. “Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it’ll be known as the F-47,” he declared. Trump also revealed that experimental versions of the jet had already flown in secret over the past five years, with the first flight reportedly taking place in 2019. “America’s enemies will never see it coming,” he said.

China’s Push Into Fifth and Sixth Generations

China, meanwhile, has been aggressively developing its own advanced fighters. At its massive Victory Day parade earlier this month, Beijing showcased upgraded versions of its carrier-based J-15 fighters and unveiled the J-35, its second fifth-generation jet. State media later reported that the J-35 had successfully completed catapult launch and recovery trials aboard China’s newest aircraft carrier, Fujian.

More concerning for U.S. strategists are reports of Chinese sixth-generation prototypes. Online footage has revealed large, stealthy aircraft with three engines and tailless designs, unofficially referred to as the J-36 and J-50. These designs resemble aspects of America’s own NGAD concepts.

Analysts believe these larger aircraft are tailored for long-range operations across the Indo-Pacific, capable of carrying more fuel, larger weapons, and additional crew. “The J-36 is large and stealthy, tailored to the Indo-Pacific and the type of air defenses Beijing would be up against,” explained Jacob Parakilas of RAND. Yet he cautioned that such size also brings drawbacks, including higher costs, reduced maneuverability, and a greater chance of detection.

Competing Visions of Air Power

The differences between the U.S. and Chinese visions of sixth-generation fighters are striking. The F-47 is designed around agility, automation, and the ability to integrate seamlessly with drones, while China’s designs appear focused on range and payload. “This plane flies with drones,” Trump said of the F-47. “It’s a technology that’s new, but it doesn’t fly by itself. It flies with many drones, as many as you want, and that’s something that no other plane can do.”

William Freer, a fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, argued that the timing of the F-47’s announcement was no accident. “The fact the F-47 announcement comes just three months after the first publicly viewed flight of what appears to be a new large stealthy aircraft from China is likely not a coincidence,” he said. “History has shown peer competition is a great driving force for the U.S. to muster its technological and fiscal might to leapfrog its opponents.”

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink openly mocked Beijing’s efforts to copy American designs, showing a rendering of the F-47 at the Maryland conference and remarking, “I expect some of the Chinese intel analysts are spending a lot of time looking at this picture. Good luck.”

Can China Close the Gap?

China’s aerospace industry has made rapid progress in the past decade, surpassing Russia as Washington’s main competitor. Its J-20 stealth fighter is already a serious platform in the Indo-Pacific theater, and the J-35 is advancing quickly. Still, many experts doubt Beijing can match the technological breakthroughs being built into the F-47.

Rick Joe, a well-known analyst of Chinese military aviation, has said that while China is rolling out new designs like the J-35A, they are not yet at the level of frontline operational capability. He believes the J-35 may be entering testing and evaluation but is not ready for large-scale deployment.

Brent Eastwood, another expert on air power, argued that Chinese jets are often promoted as stealth fighters but in reality only possess “stealthy attributes.” In contrast, the F-47 represents what he called “a significant leap forward” that will cement U.S. air superiority.

The F-47 is expected to enter service before the end of this decade, with at least 185 aircraft planned for purchase. That fleet size would equal or surpass today’s F-22 inventory. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored the geopolitical message of the program: “The F-47 sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere and to our enemies that we can, and we will, be able to project power around the globe, unimpeded, for generations to come.”

Gen. Allvin echoed that sentiment, saying, “We’re going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare with this.”

For now, the United States appears to hold the advantage, thanks to its early start, years of secret testing, and the integration of technologies that extend far beyond stealth. Yet China’s determination to close the gap ensures that the competition for air dominance will remain one of the defining rivalries of this century.

ACZ Editor: China seems to be good at stealing tech, I’m willing to bet that much of its tech is stolen from our program – which means they will catch up eventually but it may take them a while. Hopefully we can maintain that lead. But number are also important, and China has demonstrated that they can outproduce, as we have seen in shipping and in the commercial world. 150 F47’s might not prevail against 3000 of China’s latest.