The War Zone newspaper published a photo of a mysterious aircraft that was spotted near the secretive US air base known as "Area 51" in Nevada.
The newspaper said, based on the image: "The body shape appears to closely match what is known so far about the sixth-generation stealth fighter F-47."
The newspaper did not rule out the possibility that the image showed an experimental model of the X-plane performing the role of a prototype even before the agreement was signed with Boeing, which took over the development of the new aircraft.
The aircraft was reportedly photographed south of the town of Rachel, and was flying at a very low altitude.
However, it is not unlikely that what was captured on camera was not the predecessor of the F-47, but another experimental aircraft or a drone.
The newspaper added: "It is not entirely clear at the moment whether this is actually a real aircraft, but there are good reasons to believe that this is a first opportunity to see what the F-47 will look like."
It is worth noting that the F-47 is an American sixth-generation stealth fighter, officially announced in March 2025. It was designed to be the cornerstone of the US Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, replacing the F-22 Raptor fleet. .
The following is a summary of the most important information currently available about it.
Speed : Exceeds the speed of sound by more than Mach 2 (more than 2,470 km/h).
Combat range : Over 1,000 nautical miles (≈ 1,850 km), an improvement of up to 70% compared to the F-22..
Cost per aircraft : Initial estimates suggest around $300 million.
As for development costs, the United States has allocated a substantial sum for the development of this aircraft, with the 2026 fiscal year budget including approximately $3.5 billion for the development of the F-47 within the NGAD program, which has a total cost of $20 billion..
Integrated combat system : The aircraft will not operate alone, but as a "quarterback" to coordinate a squadron of combat companion drones (CCAs), which may number up to 1,000 aircraft..
Revolutionary Adaptive-Cycle Engine : The aircraft will be equipped with an Adaptive-Cycle Engine, which can change its characteristics during flight to prioritize either maximum thrust or fuel efficiency, giving it a significant advantage in range and performance..
Advanced combat and stealth capabilities : It is expected to possess very advanced capabilities in the field of stealth, electronic warfare, and sensor fusion, making it extremely difficult to detect..
Schedule and Production
Key milestones in the aircraft project:
Secret tests : A prototype of the aircraft is believed to have made its first secret flight as early as 2020..
Winning the contract : In March 2025, Donald Trump announced that Boeing had won the development contract.
Manufacturing start date : Production of the first aircraft is confirmed to begin in September 2025..
First flight : The goal is for the aircraft to make its first flight in 2028..
Active duty : Active duty is expected to enter service in the early to mid-2030s..
Planned number of aircraft : The Air Force plans to purchase at least 185 aircraft to replace its F-22 fleet. .
