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.
