【By Observer Net, Wang Shichun】According to a report by the US Air and Space Forces magazine website on August 30, Colin Miller, vice president and general manager of Boeing's Phantom Works, said on August 29 that the first flight of the US Air Force's sixth-generation fighter jet, the F-47, will be earlier than many people expect, and the aircraft is about to make its maiden flight.

Additionally, Miller said that due to unprecedented investment, Boeing is also in a favorable position for the rapid production of the F-47.

Boeing's published F-47 concept image, which seems to have canards on social media

Colin Miller, vice president and general manager of Boeing's Phantom Works, said that people will be surprised by the speed of the F-47's maiden flight.

Due to the classified nature of the project, Miller refused to reveal specific details, but he stated at a fireside chat during the Defense Industry Association's Defense Emerging Technology Conference and Exhibition: "I think it (the F-47's maiden flight) will happen faster than usual."

He said that the F-47 fighter jet "was born at Phantom Works... built on decades of technological development. The continuous R&D... allows underlying technologies to integrate into this platform... due to the solid technical foundation of the system... we are able to develop rapidly."

Miller said that Boeing is also in a favorable position for the rapid production of the F-47. He added that the company "has never made such a large investment before signing a contract - huge, massive investment."

He said: "If you have been to St. Louis, you will see buildings rising from the ground. We are far ahead in this aspect because we must be prepared to meet the commitment of customer needs. We have 100% of our resources and are ready to deliver."

Miller said that another platform originating from "Phantom Works" is the MQ-25 'Stingray' aerial refueling drone, which is expected to make its first flight this year and then be deployed on aircraft carriers in 2026.

He said: "A very cool thing about the MQ-25 is that it initially appeared as a potential collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), so it has the basic capability to perform other missions. At the appropriate time, we will study these, and see what other capabilities we can provide for the Navy and others, which are based on a very, very powerful platform, with a very long range, excellent payload (capability) and carrier compatibility."

He said: "When I entered Phantom Works last year, the first thing we did was establish a strategic team, which we called Strategic and Partnerships. A large part of their efforts is to find the best partners, including other major partners and non-traditional defense contractors."

Miller described this process as "speed dating," where Phantom Works "looks for the most suitable person." He added that there are things that Boeing and Phantom Works do best, and there are things other companies do better.

He said, for example, that Boeing's investment in artificial intelligence "has not reached the level of other companies... therefore, we are looking for partners to incorporate into Phantom Works."

"At the end of the day, everything is for the US military soldiers. How can we get the maximum capability at the lowest cost as quickly as possible? So, we value partnerships. We will do what we are best at, while bringing in what others are best at, and we will propose game-changing solutions."

Despite Miller's confidence, some U.S. media have bluntly criticized that he made these remarks at a time when Boeing is facing problems with timely delivery of military aircraft. The U.S. Air Force's KC-46A "Pegasus" refueling aircraft delivery has been delayed for several years, and the company is still struggling to complete the development of the T-7A "Red Hawk" jet trainer after seven years of research and development.

On March 21, 2025, local time, President Trump announced that the U.S. had officially named the manned fighter jet force under development as the F-47, and awarded the development and production contract of the aircraft to Boeing, and released some renderings of the aircraft.

According to the current U.S. President Trump, the F-47 fighter jet "uses the most advanced stealth technology," will be "the most advanced, most powerful, and most lethal aircraft in history," and can be deployed in combat alongside drones.

This May, General David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, posted a picture on the social media platform X, stating that the aircraft will be put into service at some point between 2025 and 2029.

This article is an exclusive article by Observer Net. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7544937275352760870/

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