Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland on 21/1, President Donald Trump stated that the US military possesses the best assets, including the F-35 stealth fighter, and is developing a 6th-generation fighter aircraft named F-47.

"They say the F-47 is the most powerful fighter jet ever. They chose the number 47 for the aircraft, but I will remove this number if I don't like it. I don't know why they chose 47", he said.

The reason President Trump raised the issue of removing the "F-47" designation for the fighter jet, which is expected to ensure US Air Force superiority in future conflicts, especially those involving high-tech weaponry, remains unclear.

The US Air Force previously explained the F-47 designation for the fighter jet under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) project. The name draws inspiration from the legendary World War II P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, which was renamed F-47 in 1947.

The year 1947 also marked the establishment of the US Air Force, formed from the Army Air Forces. Additionally, the number 47 refers to Trump's role as the 45th and 47th President of the US.

The F-47 development program once faced uncertainty and risked cancellation. However, the Trump administration decided to continue the project, announcing in 3/2025 that Boeing had been selected as the manufacturer.

"The generals chose a name, and it is a great number", Trump said during the F-47 fighter jet's unveiling last year.

Joseph Trevithick, an editor at the military news site War Zone, noted that the US President emphasizes his personal image. "Trump may not want to be directly associated with the F-47 program if it encounters serious problems or becomes a subject of other controversies, or if he simply dislikes the fighter jet's design", according to Trevithick.

The US Air Force and Boeing remain optimistic about the F-47 program's progress. In 9/2025, then-US Air Force commander David Allvin stated that Boeing had begun manufacturing the first prototype, just months after the fighter aircraft was announced.

Simulated image of the Boeing F-47 fighter jet. *Graphic: USAF*

The F-47 is expected to have a combat radius exceeding 1,800 km and a top speed of approximately 2,400 km/h. Its operational range is estimated to be 25% greater than existing fighter jets in the US military's inventory.

The US Air Force plans to acquire at least 185 F-47 aircraft, aligning with its strategy to replace the F-22 stealth fighter fleet; however, this number may change. The final cost of a complete F-47 aircraft remains undisclosed. Some US experts and officials estimate each unit could exceed 300 million USD, making it three times more expensive than the average F-35 stealth fighter.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, War Zone, CNN)