Boeing Secures Historic Defense Contract F-47, Boosts US Manufacturing Jobs

Boeing has secured a landmark $20 billion defense contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s future fighter jet, the F-47. This historic win marks the first time Boeing has earned a clean-sheet fighter jet design contract, particularly significant after reporting an $11.8 billion annual loss in January 2025.

The F-47, part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, represents a crucial advancement in U.S. military capabilities. The program has demonstrated its commitment to innovation, indicating successful test flights of experimental versions over the past five years. This contract serves as a vital boost for Boeing’s St. Louis, Missouri, fighter jet production facilities, strengthening U.S. manufacturing jobs. The Air Force plans to produce more F-47s than the current fleet of 180 F-22s, positioning the aircraft as a cornerstone of American air superiority, particularly in potential conflicts with China.

Contract Creates Thousands of Manufacturing Jobs Across America

The massive F-47 defense contract is triggering a significant expansion of manufacturing capabilities across the United States, creating thousands of jobs in aerospace production. The economic impact extends well beyond the initial $20 billion contract award, establishing Boeing as a cornerstone of American defense manufacturing for decades to come.

St. Louis Facilities Expand to Meet Production Demands

Boeing has broken ground on a comprehensive $1.8 billion expansion at its north St. Louis County complex. This expansion includes a new 1.1 million square-foot facility known as the Advanced Combat Air Facility that will nearly double the company’s manufacturing footprint in the area. Additionally, Boeing has begun construction on a 47,500 square-foot Advanced Coatings Center that will house state-of-the-art, post-assembly phases of future military aircraft production.

“As we pivot toward future programs, Boeing’s defense business is in the midst of one of the most significant investments in new facilities in our history,” said Steve Nordlund, Air Dominance vice president and general manager. The Advanced Coatings Center will be a secure facility operated by Phantom Works, Boeing’s proprietary research and development division, and is expected to be operational in 2025.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson emphasized the importance of this development: “This facility is great news for Missouri and for our nation. With more than 15,000 employees, Boeing is Missouri’s largest manufacturer that helps spur this state’s economic growth every day”.

Supply Chain Benefits Spread to Multiple States

The economic benefits of the defense contract extend far beyond Boeing’s primary facilities. In preparation for expanded production, the company opened a new Advanced Composite Fabrication Center in Mesa, Arizona, and added a new St. Louis-based Lab and Test facility. Furthermore, Boeing plans to open an advanced post-assembly site in the second quarter of 2025.

This expansion strengthens the entire American industrial base, with supply chain benefits spreading across multiple states. Boeing maintains an extensive supplier network that spans the country, with manufacturing and quality team positions currently listed in Alabama, California, Florida, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

The company’s defense unit received a substantial boost from the contract after struggling with cost overruns on other defense programs. Boeing’s defense operations generated $7 billion in first-quarter sales in 2024, representing 6% growth from the previous year. Overall, U.S. government contracts represented 37% of Boeing’s total revenue last year, including foreign military sales.

Boeing Announces New Hiring Initiative

In response to growing production demands, Boeing has launched a comprehensive hiring initiative across its manufacturing facilities. The company is actively recruiting for positions including:

• Manufacturing engineers
• Manufacturing planners
• Production engineering managers
• Aircraft assembly structures mechanics
• Production test electrical assemblers
• Quality specialists

Boeing has already increased hiring at its fighter jet production lines, with approximately 100 new employees recently added to staff up its F-15 manufacturing operations. The company plans to deliver 16 F-15 aircraft this year but will increase to 24 aircraft annually by 2026, necessitating continued workforce expansion.

The St. Louis County council approved approximately $155 million in tax breaks for the project, recognizing the significant economic impact of the manufacturing expansion. As Steve Nordlund explained, “It’s not lost on you what’s happening with the fight around the globe, and the speed our adversaries are moving at”. The investment demonstrates Boeing’s commitment to strengthen America’s defense manufacturing capabilities while creating sustainable, high-quality jobs across the country.

Pentagon Reveals F-47’s Game-Changing Capabilities

The F-47 fighter aircraft represents a technological leap forward in American air dominance strategy, combining unprecedented stealth capabilities with artificial intelligence integration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the aircraft as “sending a very direct, clear message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere and to our enemies that we will be able to project power around the globe unimpeded for generations to come”.

Aircraft Serves as ‘Quarterback’ for Drone Fleet

At the heart of the F-47’s revolutionary design is its ability to coordinate operations with drone swarms. The aircraft is engineered to serve as the central node for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), essentially functioning as a battlefield quarterback. As Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin explained, “This is allowing us to look into the future and unlock the magic that is human-machine teaming, and as we do that, we are going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare”.

Consequently, this human-machine integration enables a single F-47 to potentially multiply its combat effectiveness through coordination with multiple autonomous platforms. These platforms can perform various missions, including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike operations without risking additional pilots.

Stealth Technology Advances Beyond F-22 and F-35

The F-47 showcases remarkable advances in low observability, with a radar cross-section (RCS) reportedly measuring just 0.0001 m² compared to the F-35’s 0.005 m². This means the F-47 appears 50 times smaller on radar than the already-stealthy F-35, significantly enhancing survivability in contested environments.

Despite these impressive specifications, President Trump emphasized practical outcomes rather than technical details: “America’s enemies will never see it coming. Hopefully we won’t have to use it for that purpose, but you have to have it. And if it ever happens, they won’t know what the hell hit them”.

Extended Range Capabilities Transform Combat Operations

Indeed, among the F-47’s most significant advancements is its extended operational range. According to Gen. Allvin, “The F-47 will have significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, be more sustainable, supportable, and have higher availability than our fifth-generation fighters”. This expanded range directly addresses limitations of the F-22 Raptor, which struggles with relatively short range and limited payload capacity when operating at extended distances without aerial refueling support.

AI Integration Creates Unprecedented Battlefield Awareness

The F-47 incorporates cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems that fundamentally transform battlefield awareness. Using advanced sensors and computing power, the aircraft can analyze dynamic battlefield conditions in real-time, enhancing decision-making speed and accuracy.

Specifically, the AI capabilities enable the aircraft to integrate data from multiple domains simultaneously, creating a comprehensive picture of the battlespace that allows pilots to focus on mission execution rather than information management. This integration is vital for operations in highly contested environments against sophisticated adversaries like China, whose advanced air defenses have made previous-generation aircraft increasingly vulnerable.

President Trump summed up the aircraft’s significance: “In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there’s never been anything even close to it, from speed to maneuverability, to what it can have, to payload”.

Trump Administration Prioritizes Domestic Defense Manufacturing

President Trump’s administration has placed a renewed focus on strengthening American defense manufacturing, viewing it as crucial to both national security and economic prosperity. During his first term, the Trump administration rebuilt the United States military with over $2.2 trillion in defense spending, establishing a foundation for his current approach to defense industrial policy.

How the Contract Strengthens US Industrial Base

The massive Boeing F-47 contract represents a cornerstone of the administration’s broader strategy to reinvigorate domestic manufacturing. As part of his “America First” trade policy, Trump signed an executive order requiring a “full economic and security review of the United States’ industrial and manufacturing base” immediately upon taking office. This comprehensive assessment identified critical vulnerabilities that the Pentagon is now addressing through strategic contracts like Boeing’s.

Moreover, the administration has activated authorities under Title III of the Defense Production Act to support certain materials critical to national defense. This approach allows direct government investment in manufacturing capabilities that are deemed essential for national security. For instance, the Pentagon has spent approximately $1 billion during Trump’s administration to bolster companies operating in identified priority industries.

Pentagon’s Strategy for Reducing Foreign Dependencies

A key focus of the Trump administration’s defense industrial policy has been reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, primarily from China. In 2023, the U.S. Navy successfully reduced the number of Chinese suppliers in its “critical technologies” supply chains by 40%, with the Army achieving a 17% reduction. These efforts align with Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth’s stated intent to utilize the Defense Production Act to “secure America’s defense and ensure a secure supply chain for the Nuclear Triad”.

The Pentagon has identified five key domains of manufacturing requiring greater oversight and support:

• Castings and forgings
• Missiles and munitions
• Energy storage and batteries
• Strategic and critical materials
• Microelectronics

From 2019 to 2022, imports accounted for over half of U.S. apparent consumption for 49 nonfuel mineral commodities, with the United States being 100% import reliant for 15 of them. China was the top supplier, providing 24 of these commodities. To counter this dependency, Trump authorized the use of wartime powers to expand critical mineral production, ensuring essential materials remain available for defense manufacturing.

Conclusion

Boeing’s landmark F-47 contract stands as a testament to American manufacturing excellence, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs across multiple states. Consequently, the $1.8 billion expansion of Boeing’s St. Louis facilities, coupled with new manufacturing centers in Arizona and other locations, strengthens the nation’s industrial base significantly.

The F-47’s groundbreaking capabilities, particularly its advanced stealth technology and AI-driven drone coordination, position the United States at the forefront of military aviation. Additionally, the aircraft’s extended range and enhanced battlefield awareness capabilities address crucial operational requirements for future conflicts.

The Trump administration’s strategic focus on domestic defense manufacturing has therefore yielded tangible results. Manufacturing initiatives across five key domains – from microelectronics to strategic materials – reduce American dependence on foreign suppliers, especially China. Above all, this historic contract represents more than just a military advancement; it symbolizes a resurgence in American manufacturing prowess, ensuring both national security and economic growth for decades ahead.