US Air Force official says F-47 sixth-generation fighter on track for 2028 flight
As competition intensifies with the PLA over future air power, American officer says the aircraft will fly during Trump’s term
Quick Look
US Air Force official Brigadier General Timothy Helfrich announced that the F-47 sixth-generation fighter is on track for a 2028 maiden flight, aiming to be the world's first of its class as China continues testing its own next-generation combat aircraft.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The US and China are currently engaged in a technological race to develop and deploy sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
Washington is “not too far away” from a production line for its F-47 sixth-generation fighter, a senior US Air Force official has said, as China presses ahead with flight-testing two different next-generation combat aircraft of its own.
During a virtual event hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies on Monday, Brigadier General Timothy Helfrich, the service’s portfolio acquisition executive for fighters and advanced aircraft, said the F-47 would be “the world’s first sixth-generation fighter”.
He said the aircraft was on track to fly before US President Donald Trump’s term ended in January 2029. Its first flight is targeted for 2028.
Meanwhile, China’s two tailless next-generation fighters, commonly known as the J-36 and J-50, have been observed on test flights since December 2024.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
F-47 maiden flight
Possible · Within years
Open Questions
- What are the specific technical capabilities of the F-47?
- How will the F-47 production timeline affect defense budget allocations?
