6 Generations of US Fighter Jets: Visualized

The F-47 is the latest link in a chain of warplanes, each built for the battles of its time, now leading to a future where information and machines fight alongside pilots.

Takeaways:

• Inflation-adjusted costs reveal a nearly 200-fold increase in fighter jet expenses from the 1945 F-80 to the projected F-47, showing how military innovation demands exponentially greater investment.
• Each generation of aircraft is a response to the strategic anxieties of its era—from Cold War deterrence to stealth supremacy in the age of asymmetric threats.

The recently revealed F-47 is still a speculative placeholder—an artist's conceptual rendering inspired by the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, the U.S. Air Force’s vision for a sixth-generation fighter expected to debut around 2030. Unlike its predecessors, NGAD is not just one plane but an interconnected system of systems—a “family of systems”—possibly including manned jets, AI-powered drones, and advanced sensor-sharing tech.

Boeing’s selection over rivals like Lockheed Martin has stirred debate in defense circles, given its recent struggles with fighter programs like the T-7A and ongoing issues in its commercial division, raising questions about risk, readiness, and political influence in the decision.

Related Facts:

• ✈️ The F-22 Raptor was so advanced, the U.S. banned its export—even to allies—fearing it would erode American air dominance.
• 🛰️ NGAD’s sixth-gen fighters are expected to be optionally manned, allowing pilots to fly with or without physically being in the cockpit.
• 🧠 AI co-pilots like “Skyborg” are being developed to autonomously assist or fully fly future fighters, blending human intuition with machine speed.
• 🧬 Stealth isn’t just about shape anymore—future fighters will integrate adaptive camouflage, plasma cloaks, and heat-masking technology.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Much of the NGAD program is classified, echoing the secrecy of Cold War black projects like the SR-71 and F-117 Nighthawk.