Today's Edition
WASHINGTON (dpa)
US President Donald Trump has announced the launch of a new sixth-generation fighter jet for the Air Force, dubbed the F-47, hailing it as unmatched worldwide.
US aerospace giant Boeing has been awarded the contract to build the new fleet, which Trump said will take shape in the coming years.
"It's something the likes of which nobody has seen before.
In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there's never been anything even close to it, from speed to manoeuvrability to what it can have for payload," he said at the White House on Friday.
A prototype has already been "secretly" flying for nearly five years, he revealed.
Currently, the F-22 and F-35 - both fifth-generation fighters - are the most advanced in US service. While the F-22 is no longer in production, it remains in use by the Air Force.
The new jet will be designated the F-47 - a nod to Trump being both the 45th and 47th US president.
"This is a historic investment in the American military," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
The contract is a major win for Boeing, which has faced financial setbacks in recent years, while rival Lockheed Martin continues producing the F-35.
