What the F-47’s Projected Budget Suggests About Its Development

What the F-47’s Projected Budget Suggests About Its Development

Research and development spending on the Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 fighter and its advanced propulsion system is expected to peak in 2028 before dropping in the following years, according to Air Force budget documents. That trend suggests the service anticipates moving toward the next phase of development in the near future, one expert told Air & Space Forces Magazine. The Air Force in April asked for more than $5 billion in research, …

U.S. Air Force F-47 budget signals peak R&D spending by 2028

Spending is projected to decline steadily after that point, dropping to under $3 billion by fiscal 2031. Analysts say this pattern suggests a transition toward the next phase of development. Heather Penney, director of studies and research at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, said the funding trajectory reflects progress in development. She noted that the most complex research work may be nearing completion. “This is a surge for deve…