The United States is getting closer to creating a new generation of combat aircraft: two prototypes of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) stealth fighters, developed by American corporations Boeing and Lockheed Martin, have already passed the flight testing stage. This was reported by the authoritative publication The War Zone, citing its sources in the defense sector. The aircraft, designated F-47, have been tested over the past five years, which confirms the serious successes of the program aimed at strengthening US military superiority in the air. 

According to the publication, preparations for serial production of NGAD may be completed before the end of the presidential term of Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January 2025. The basis of the program will be a sixth-generation fighter capable of interacting with manned and unmanned vehicles acting as "loyal wingmen." These systems will be integrated with the latest technologies for control, communication and command, ensuring a high level of coordination in combat. NGAD weapons include advanced developments such as the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, as well as, presumably, classified weapons, the details of which have not yet been disclosed. 

The program envisions a gradual replacement of the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor fighters beginning in 2030. The plan is to purchase 200 NGAD aircraft and 1000 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The ratio of equipment will be two UAVs for every NGAD fighter and two CCAs for every 300 F-35 fifth-generation fighters that remain in service. This approach should give the U.S. Air Force flexibility and numerical advantage in future conflicts. 

Information coming from open sources confirms the ambitiousness of the project. In March 2025, the US Air Force announced the completion of another stage of NGAD testing, noting that both prototypes demonstrate outstanding stealth characteristics and the ability to operate in conditions of intense electronic interference. Experts from Defense News report that the fighter will be equipped with artificial intelligence to control unmanned "wingmen", which will allow the pilot to focus on strategic tasks. In addition, the Pentagon emphasizes that NGAD is being developed taking into account threats from China and Russia, whose air defense systems and aviation are becoming increasingly sophisticated. 

Analysts note that the NGAD program could change the balance of power in the air. According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, its implementation will require significant investment - the total cost, including production and maintenance, is estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars over the life cycle. However, Washington considers the project justified, given the need to maintain technological leadership. Experts also point to the competition between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, each of which is trying to prove the superiority of its approach.