AviationNews – The U.S. Air Force is making a major strategic shift, prioritizing development of its next-generation fighter, the F-47, which will trigger a drastic reduction in future F-35 orders. This move signals a pivot in U.S. air power strategy, moving funds from the Lockheed Martin jet to the future Boeing-built platform.
Reports confirmed on November 13, 2025, reveal the USAF plans to cut its procurement of the F-35A Lightning II to as low as 18 jets in 2028. This decision stems from a need to free up critical funding for the costly Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. The move is also fueled by persistent delays in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Block 4 and TR-3 software upgrades, which the Air Force deems essential for a combat-relevant aircraft.
The F-47 represents a leap to sixth-generation air superiority, designed as the successor to the F-22 Raptor. Unlike the single-platform F-35, the NGAD is a “family of systems” built around the manned F-47 fighter. This new jet will operate as a central node, controlling fleets of unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), or “loyal wingman” drones, to dominate future battlefields.
“With the F-47, we are not just building another fighter — we are shaping the future of warfare and putting our enemies on notice,” said USAF Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. “This platform will be the most advanced, lethal, and adaptable fighter ever developed.”
This procurement shift will have massive ripple effects. For Lockheed Martin, the reduction in its cornerstone F-35 program is a significant blow. For the U.S. Air Force, it is a high-stakes gamble, diverting billions to the F-47—which expects its first prototype flight in 2028—to counter the rapid advancement of near-peer adversaries. This decision effectively accelerates the sunset of the fifth-generation era and banks America’s air superiority on the success of the NGAD program.
