U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced the introduction of a new generation of fighter jets, designated the F-47. “The F-47 will be the most advanced, the most capable and the most lethal aircraft ever built,” Trump boasted with his typical hyperbole.
Unsurprisingly, the designation is an homage to Trump himself — the 47th president. The announcement event had the usual trappings of a Trump attention grab. This time, the sycophancy came courtesy of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “The name of this program is the Next Generation of Air Dominance,” stated Hegseth before bathing the president in torrents of praise. “Mr. President, because of your leadership, your clarity, America is going to have generations of air dominance.”
But not so fast. While Trump hopes to field the F-47 before his current mandate ends in 2029, it remains to be seen when the aircraft will actually be completed and deployed. Additionally, achieving air dominance has its merits. But to which ends? What is the strategic goal behind establishing dominance in the air domain? These are questions that remain unanswered by the Trump administration.
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