The U.S. Air Force is designing its F-47 sixth-generation fighter to fly more than 1,000 nautical miles (about 1,150 miles) from its base, complete a mission and return, a reach that would outstrip both the F-22 Raptor and the F-35A Lightning II.
Brig. Gen. Timothy Helfrich, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s portfolio acquisition executive for fighters and advanced aircraft, outlined the goals in a Mitchell Institute Aerospace Nation interview. He called the F-47 what the service considers the world’s first sixth-generation fighter and said the Air Force is targeting a first flight in 2028, with fielding to follow subject to development and testing.
Why combat radius matters
Combat radius is not ferry range. It measures how far an aircraft can go from its base, finish its mission and get home, depending on conditions and fuel needs. Using publicly reported figures, the F-47’s planned radius would top the F-22’s 590 nautical miles (about 679 miles) by roughly 70% and the F-35A’s 670 nautical miles (about 771 miles) by nearly 50%.
The gap matters most in the Indo-Pacific, where vast distances and Chinese long-range missiles threaten air bases, logistics hubs and supporting aircraft. A fighter that can operate farther from its base gives commanders more choices about where to station forces and could cut the number of refueling flights for some missions. Tankers would still be needed for longer distances, extended patrols or deep penetration of defended territory.
Stealth claims await proof
Helfrich said the F-47 will be substantially more survivable than existing fifth-generation fighters, a tough goal because the F-22 and F-35A are already stealthy. The Air Force has not released the F-47’s radar cross-section or detailed electronic warfare performance, so its edge cannot be independently measured yet, Army Recognition noted.
Built to be upgraded
Helfrich also stressed adaptability. The F-47 will enter service with a fully open architecture, he said, letting the Air Force add software, sensors and electronic warfare functions faster as threats evolve. Upgrading current fighters is complex, as the F-35A’s Technology Refresh 3 and Block 4 efforts show. Open mission systems are not exclusive to sixth-generation designs, since the F-15EX already uses them. The F-47’s aim is to pair that flexibility with low-observable stealth.
Where it fits
The F-47 is the central crewed fighter in the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance initiative. Boeing won the engineering and manufacturing development contract in March 2025. Previously disclosed goals include a top speed above Mach 2 and at least 185 aircraft. The fighter is expected to team with collaborative combat aircraft, uncrewed jets that could extend sensor coverage, carry extra weapons and complicate enemy targeting.
Unlike the multirole F-35A, the F-47 is meant to focus on high-end air superiority. It also offers stealth that the F-15EX, which can carry about 29,500 pounds of external stores, and the F-16 lack. Final numbers, cost and schedule will depend on testing, industrial capacity and future budgets.
As China expands its fighter fleet, missile arsenal and integrated air defenses, the Air Force is betting the F-47 can keep air superiority contestable where today’s fighters face growing limits. Delivering it will mean turning ambitious requirements into an affordable aircraft.