# Air Force Weighs F-47 Procurement Pace

The U.S. Air Force has not settled the F-47’s planned quantity or procurement schedule. The analysis recommends planning for at least 200 aircraft, citing outside analysis that recommends 300 or more, and compares a faster procurement profile averaging more than $10.5 billion annually from 2030 to 2035 with a steadier profile of about $5 billion annually. It favors the steadier pace unless aircraft procurement funding increases consistently. The first flight is targeted for 2028; a 2030 procurement start is an article assumption, not a confirmed schedule.

- The scale of the eventual buy remains uncertain, so contractors should distinguish planning scenarios from approved quantities and schedules when making investment or capacity decisions.
- The faster scenario could require substantially more annual funding and, according to the analysis, risk displacing other aircraft programs; the steadier approach depends on sustained funding.
- Companies supporting the F-47 program should assess how each funding profile could affect production capacity and the timing of supplier commitments, while treating both profiles as scenarios rather than confirmed procurement plans.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** October 27, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Air Force (USAF)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. Congress (Congress)

### Vendors
- Boeing (awardee)

### Sources
- [How the F-15 and F-22 should inform the F-47's procurement - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/10/how-the-f-15-and-f-22-should-inform-the-f-47s-procurement) - Breaking Defense