Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has responded to President Trump's announcement regarding the commencement of production for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) sixth-generation fighter, now designated as the F-47. The aircraft will be manufactured by Boeing.

"Today is a great day for American airpower, and an even better day for peace and prosperity. I am delighted that President Trump has made the decision to move forward on NGAD/F-47, and I congratulate the Boeing Company. The NGAD/F-47 is a vital platform that would allow the United States to rule the skies for years to come," stated Chairman Wicker. He added, "The new F-47 is a fine first step in a broader effort to revitalize peace through strength. I now look forward to working with President Trump on a massive scale-up of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, supercharging B-21 bomber production, and a broad revitalization of the defense industrial base."

Senator Wicker has been an advocate for the NGAD/F-47 program. His report from May 2024 titled "Peace Through Strength" calls for significant investment in national defense while emphasizing that funding progress for Collaborative Combat Aircraft should not undermine NGAD/F-47 efforts. In October 2024, he visited Boeing's St. Louis facility, which will primarily handle F-47 production. That same month, he co-authored an op-ed with Sen. Eric Schmitt in the Wall Street Journal advocating for swift modernization of Air Force platforms beginning with NGAD/F-47.