Egypt Daily News – U.S. President Donald Trump announced today, Friday, the awarding of a massive contract to Boeing for the development of the sixth-generation F-47 fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said: “After a thorough and comprehensive competition among some of the largest aerospace companies in the United States, the Air Force will award the contract for the next-generation air superiority fighter platform to Boeing.”
During his remarks in the Oval Office at the White House, accompanied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump stated that test flights for the prototype of the new fighter jet, which is part of the “Next-Generation Air Dominance” program, began five years ago.
According to the Pentagon, this fighter will feature stealth capabilities and penetration power far superior to those of the current fleet, making it essential for any potential conflict with China.
The manned aircraft, known as the “Next-Generation Air Dominance” fighter, will act as the leader of a fleet of future drones designed to penetrate the air defenses of China and other potential adversaries.
Hegseth stated that the future fleet “sends a very clear and direct message to our allies that we are here to stay and will not back down.” The initial contract for producing a version specifically for the Air Force is estimated to be worth about $20 billion. However, critics have questioned the program’s cost and necessity, especially as the Pentagon is still struggling with full production of its latest fighter, the F-35, which is expected to cost taxpayers more than $1.7 trillion over its lifetime.
In another context, the U.S. president announced today his intention to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding trade. He said: “I will speak with President Xi. I have a great relationship with him. We will have a very good relationship, but we have a trillion-dollar trade deficit because of (former U.S. President Joe) Biden with President Xi.”
Trump also announced that the outlines of a future agreement on Ukraine have already been established following his communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated: “I believe we already have the outlines of a deal, and I hope the framework for the agreement has become clear.”
