Pentagons pick of Boeing to build next-generation F-47 fighter jets in $50B deal stuns experts

The Trump administration has shocked industry observers by choosing aerospace firm Boeing to build the US military’s next-generation F-47 fighter jets — beating out competitor Lockheed Martin.The Pentagon awarded Boeing the contract for its most ambitious and expensive jet-fighter program yet — despite Boeing not having successfully introduced a new commercial or military aircraft in over a decade.The decision to select Boeing over Lockheed Martin startled Wall Street analysts and left Lockheed officials disappointed, according to the Wall Street Journal.For Boeing, the contract could exceed $50 billion and arrives at a critical juncture — potentially stabilizing the company after prolonged financial setbacks, safety scandals involving its 737 MAX jets and repeated delays across multiple programs.The Pentagon’s choice amounts to a lifeline for Boeing which will benefit from a “cost-plus” agreement whereby the government covers Boeing’s development costs and guarantees profit — a notable departure from Boeing’s recent fixed-price deals, which have generated billions in losses for the company’s defense division.The F-47 is designed to operate alongside semi-autonomous drones, boasting advanced stealth technology and long-range combat capabilities vital for countering China’s expanding military power.However, Boeing’s limited experience with stealth technology and ongoing challenges in other defense projects prompted industry skepticism.“It’s not the fighter central that it once was,” Bank of America analyst Ron Epstein told the Wall Street Journal when discussing Boeing — highlighting the company’s need to recruit engineers skilled enough to successfully deliver such a technologically sophisticated aircraft.Boeing’s current fighter jets were all developed before its 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas.Unlike rivals Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, Boeing lacks experience in stealth aircraft production.The company’s most rec...