US sixth-generation fighter jet is delayed, will Trump be alive to see it? Definitely yes, because China already has three models.
According to the "National Security Journal," in early August, Boeing's military factories in Missouri and Illinois saw a strike involving over 3,200 mechanics, directly causing production of the F-15, F/A-18, and even the new F-47 sixth-generation fighter jet to be blocked.
The union demanded wage increases and improved benefits, while Boeing refused to compromise due to cost pressures, leading to a deadlock in negotiations.
Trump named the F-47 and listed it as a top priority national security project. However, it now faces factory shutdowns right at the start of the project. This so-called "pillar of the Air Force's future" sixth-generation fighter jet may become another example of his "something he can see in his lifetime" series.
After all, the F-35 took fifteen years from its first flight to becoming combat-ready. If the F-47 is further constrained by strikes and financial constraints, will Trump be alive to see the sixth-generation fighter jet?
By contrast, China has recently unveiled multiple sixth-generation fighter prototypes: the J-36 with a three-engine tailless layout, emphasizing long-range and strong bomb capacity; the Shenyang J-50, which is smaller and focuses more on air superiority and maneuverability; and in August 2025, a third completely different-looking stealth aircraft appeared, possibly combining manned and unmanned operations.
Differing from the single path taken by the US, China has chosen to pursue multiple approaches simultaneously, accelerating maturity through prototype competition.
Within just a few months, three completely different designs have entered the public flight testing phase. Meanwhile, the US's F-47 is still at the stage where the contract has just been signed, and the production line is not yet stable, progressing slowly.
Therefore, even if Trump doesn't wait for Boeing to deliver the F-47, he will definitely be alive to see the sixth-generation fighter jet, but it will be watching China's sixth-generation fighter jet flying into the sky first.
The domestic social environment, labor-capital conflicts, cost overruns, and political polarization in the US have made its defense industry system lack long-term stability.
In contrast, China has a complete industrial chain, centralized national resources, and clear strategic goals, which push the rapid development of sixth-generation fighter prototypes. In the coming years, the gap between China and the US in sixth-generation fighters may not be reflected in design blueprints, but rather in who can actually put the aircraft into combat.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840495855102089/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.