Pricey F‑47 faces international buyer skepticism

The American president decided to personally reveal the name F‑47. The aircraft is classified as a 6th-generation fighter and is being touted as groundbreaking equipment akin to what the F-22 Raptor was at the time of its debut.

Frank Kendall highlights issues that might prevent the F-47 from gaining recognition in other countries. Although its exact price has not yet been determined, initial estimates suggested that it could reach up to $300 million. Ultimately, the price will most likely be lower but still significantly higher than that of the F-35, which, as Lukasz Michalik, a journalist with WP, reminds us, currently costs around $87 million each.

"I would be very surprised if our, any of our partners, were prepared to pay that unit cost for a new aircraft," said Frank Kendall.

Another issue, already apparent, is the statements made by Donald Trump, who claimed that the export version of the F-47 would have reduced capabilities (estimated at "about 10 percent" less).

Additionally, in recent weeks, the American president has intensified his rhetoric against many countries, including those considered long-standing allies of the United States. As a result, doubts have begun to surface regarding the purchase of the F-35, notably in Canada and Portugal.

"Another factor right now, of course, is that the attitude we've taken towards our allies is driving a lot of them to rethink their degree of cooperation and commitment and reliance on US sources for equipment," added Frank Kendall.

The F-47 will be built by Boeing. The fighter is expected to provide better stealth characteristics and a greater range than 5th-generation aircraft. It is also intended to work seamlessly with unmanned aerial vehicles and achieve a speed of over Mach 2 (about 1,520 mph).