Military Watch Magazine

U.S. Air Force Using New Testing Methods to Accelerate Urgent F-47 Fighter Program: China Remains Far Ahead

The U.S. Air Force is preparing an advanced flight-testing program for its F-47 sixth generation fighter, combining conventional flight tests with digital modelling, simulation and earlier operational evaluations to accelerate the aircraft’s development. The Air Force Test Center (AFTC), based at Edwards Air Force Base in California, is working to ensure it can begin testing the aircraft’s critical capabilities as soon as the first example takes to the air, currently scheduled for 2028. The service aims to introduce the first operational aircraft in the early 2030s, placing considerable emphasis on reducing the time between the fighter’s maiden flight and its entry into service. Analysts have widely questioned whether industry can meet the Air Force’s schedule, particularly when considering the long history of very protracted delays affecting all prior post-Cold War era programs.