The Boeing F-47, soon to be the U.S. Air Force’s most advanced fighter jet, came perilously close to never becoming a reality. The fate of this groundbreaking aircraft was nearly derailed due to China’s missile advancements and strong opposition from tech billionaires like Elon Musk, who cast doubt on the future of manned fighter jets.
The F-22 Raptor, currently the U.S. Air Force’s primary air superiority fighter, is a technological marvel. Built to dominate enemy airspace, it’s fast, highly agile, and incredibly stealthy. But with the Raptor fleet ageing and new threats emerging, particularly China’s advanced surface-to-air and long-range missiles, its dominance is under threat. These missiles could take down the fighter before it even gets close to the enemy, prompting the need for a next-generation solution.
Enter the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme, designed to develop the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet. This plan has been in motion since 2014, and by 2023, it evolved into a “family of systems” that would include a large, crewed fighter supported by smaller drones. But while many experts saw the potential of this new fighter, figures like Elon Musk were vocal in their belief that drones would render traditional jets obsolete. This created uncertainty, leading the Air Force to place NGAD on hold last year.
However, in a surprising turn of events, President Trump announced on March 21 that Boeing had been awarded a contract to build the F-47, the U.S. Air Force’s most advanced fighter jet to date. The announcement came as a shock to many in the industry, especially given the programme’s earlier halt and the uncertainty surrounding the future of manned jets.
The F-47’s development marks a clear endorsement of traditional airpower, despite the growing influence of drone technology. While tech enthusiasts like Musk push for smaller, unmanned drones, aviation experts argue that they simply can’t match the range, speed, and versatility of a piloted fighter jet, especially in vast regions like the Western Pacific. As aviation expert Bill Sweetman puts it, “Whatever one’s view of the F-22, it can’t be replaced by a quadcopter drone.”
Unlike Musk’s vision of a drone-led future, the F-47 will retain a human pilot. This decision is likely to frustrate those who see AI as the future of warfare, but experts like Justin Bronk, senior research fellow at the RUSI think tank, argue that human pilots are still necessary in combat. “When radio communications are down, a plane is on its own. Human pilots can be trusted,” he explains, pointing to the risks of relying on AI for life-or-death decisions.
The F-47 won’t fly alone, though. It will be accompanied by smaller Collaborative Combat Aircraft, essentially drone ‘wingmen’, but it’s clear that the F-47 will remain the star of the show. This signifies that, despite the rise of drone technology, fighter pilots aren’t going anywhere just yet.
Trump’s announcement has allowed him to claim credit for this significant milestone in the U.S. Air Force’s future, and it conveniently came just as Elon Musk was attending a Pentagon briefing. Whether you’re a supporter of manned jets or a drone advocate, one thing is certain: the F-47 marks a pivotal moment in the race for air superiority.
