USAF Pushes F-47 Development, Targeting 2028 First Flight

The US Air Force is moving forward with the F-47 program, its next-generation air combat platform intended to replace the F-22 Raptor. Recent developments include the confirmation of the F-22’s gradual retirement and the appearance of an early-stage F-47 program patch that provides clues about the aircraft’s strategic purpose, design philosophy, and operational role. The F-47 is being developed under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, with Boeing producing the first units and a first flight planned for 2028.

The Air Force acknowledged that an emblem circulating online containing the words “F-47 SMO” and an image of a phoenix was created by the F-47 System Management Office. Officials noted that it is a preliminary design and “remains under development,” meaning changes are expected before formal approval. The patch displays elements common in military heraldry — gold deltas, red stars and a Latin motto — but also includes symbols that observers linked to the aircraft’s mission. One of these is a white silhouette resembling China’s eastern coastline, reinforcing expectations that the F-47 is being built for operations in the Pacific and for penetrating advanced anti-access and area-denial networks.

The Latin motto “Superamus Perstamus Letamus,” translated by program staff as “We overcome, we persevere, we rejoice,” appears to be carried over from earlier NGAD initiatives. A central phoenix symbol, described by Air Force officials as a reference to the program’s revival after near cancellation, reflects the narrative of a system that “rises again” after shifting political and budgetary priorities.

Boeing secured the contract in March, following competition with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. Three gold deltas on the patch resemble marks previously used by the Air Force’s Agile Development Office, which was linked to the NGAD effort beginning in 2019. Six red stars resemble symbols used in testing activity at Groom Lake, associated with prototype work under NGAD.

The number 47 references both the P-47 Thunderbolt from World War II and the year 1947, when the Air Force was established. It also aligns with the presidential numbering of the administration that restored NGAD funding. Air Force historians note that unofficial names often become dominant in public use, citing the A-10, officially the Thunderbolt II but widely known as the Warthog.

The Air Force confirmed in its NGAD program report that “the F-22 Raptor will begin progressive retirement.” According to the Air Combat Command, the F-22 “reached its physical limit for software integration,” which restricts its ability to absorb new systems. In contrast, the F-47 is described by USAF technicians as a platform built around modularity, secure data links and native integration of artificial intelligence tools. RAND Corporation analysts characterized the aircraft as “the greatest survival multiplier of the next two decades.”

The F-47’s architecture allows the integration of sensors, weapons and algorithms without major redesign. Air Force engineering assessments highlight an extended AESA radar, passive sensors capable of detecting emissions without revealing the aircraft’s position and a 360-degree infrared system. Department of Defense evaluations from 2023 state that the aircraft’s signature-management approach relies on “controlled emissions, heat management and a redesigned exhaust system” intended to reduce detectability by advanced radar systems deployed by Russia and China.

The aircraft is also designed to command autonomous drones for reconnaissance, electronic warfare and, when required, precision strike. Boeing engineers confirmed that the fighter will function as an “advanced airborne command node,” delegating higher-risk tasks to unmanned assets.