America's sixth-generation fighter F-47: Sacrificing stealth for speed?

The highlight is on the side wings.

The White House ceremony also revealed the first official image of the F-47, with the most notable feature being the canard - a small wing attached to the front of the main wing.

This detail immediately created a heated debate among military experts about the role and design of the F-47, because it is clearly different from previous generation stealth aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35.

The multibillion-dollar contract puts Boeing in a leading position to deliver a fighter jet that could replace aging platforms like the F-22 Raptor, which is expected to enter service later this decade.

Simulation photo of the US Boeing F-47 fighter. Photo USAF

The first images show a complex aerodynamic design, including asymmetrical air intakes, fueling speculation that the Air Force may be deliberately hiding sensitive details from foreign intelligence.

US officials have only revealed that the F-47 will incorporate “advanced technology” to deal with growing threats. Canards are not an unfamiliar design, having been used on aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen or Eurofighter Typhoon, helping to increase maneuverability.

However, for an American stealth fighter, the appearance of winglets could signal a change in design strategy: balancing stealth and combat performance.

Aerospace expert Michael Pryce at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that the US Air Force's early publicization of this feature could imply that it is prioritizing close-range combat or high-speed dogfights over absolute stealth. One reason could be that enemy radar technology is increasingly advanced, especially low-frequency radars that can detect stealth aircraft from a distance.

The NGAD program, with the F-47 at its core, has been in development for years, with prototypes flying since 2020. The program is not just focused on a single aircraft, but on building an entire air combat ecosystem, working with drones and advanced sensors to maintain an advantage over adversaries.

Boeing's victory over Lockheed Martin for the contract marks a significant turning point. Lockheed Martin is the maker of the F-22 and F-35, but Boeing has proven its capabilities with powerful combat designs such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the T-7A Red Hawk trainer.

Speed ​​race with China's J-20 and Russia's Su-57

The F-47’s canards may be a blend of two opposing design philosophies: American stealth and the maneuverability of Chinese and Russian aircraft. China’s J-20 also has canards, which give it more maneuverability, though its stealth capabilities are not yet known. Meanwhile, Russia’s Su-57 sacrifices some stealth for super-maneuverability.

Ellen Pawlikowski, a retired Air Force general, believes the future of air warfare will be in a “chaotic, contested” environment where speed and maneuverability will be as important as stealth. That may explain why Boeing took a different approach with the F-47.

However, the design also raises questions about cost and complexity. NGAD has come under scrutiny due to its massive budget, estimated to exceed $100 billion. Adding wings could add to the manufacturing challenge, requiring sophisticated engineering to maintain stealth while maintaining aerodynamic performance.

If the F-47 does indeed have canards, it could signal a major shift in US air combat strategy, one that relies not only on stealth but also on improved combat capabilities in more complex scenarios.

Ngoc Anh (according to WH, Bulgarian Military, AFP)