American F-47 Jet Using Canards from Older Generation Fighters: Chinese Expert

The U.S. Air Force’s newly announced F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet is drawing scrutiny from Chinese military analysts, who acknowledge its sixth-generation features but question the use of canards, an aerodynamic element more commonly found in older fighter designs.

Zhang Xuefeng, a Chinese military affairs expert, was quoted as saying by the Global Times that the F-47 aligns with modern stealth trends by eliminating vertical tails and incorporating a flat nose and lifting-body fuselage. He also highlighted the jet’s manned-unmanned teaming capability, a key characteristic of next-generation fighters. However, Zhang pointed out that the F-47’s use of canards—small forward wings in front of the main wings—could impact its stealth performance. He suggested that Boeing may lack the technological capability to implement more advanced control systems, leading to a reliance on older design elements.

The F-47 program, intended to replace the F-22 Raptor, was awarded to Boeing under the NGAD initiative. The aircraft is expected to operate alongside autonomous drone wingmen, known as collaborative combat aircraft. Wang Ya’nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, voiced skepticism about Boeing’s ability to lead the program, citing its struggles with recent military and commercial projects such as the KC-46 tanker and 737 MAX.

Meanwhile, China’s own sixth-generation fighter programs appear to be progressing, with unverified images circulating online in December 2024 purportedly showing two stealth aircraft in test flights. These aircraft reportedly lack both vertical tails and canards, differing from the F-47’s design.

The F-47 incorporates a high-dihedral wing structure, reminiscent of Boeing’s YF-118G Bird of Prey technology demonstrator, which tested stealth and tailless designs in the 1990s. The jet’s broad, shovel-like nose suggests the presence of a large radar array, while a bubble canopy design raises questions about whether it will be a single-seat or dual-seat aircraft. While the image released so far shows canard-like structures, some analysts speculate they could be part of a misleading design meant to obscure the jet’s true capabilities.

As the U.S. moves forward with the F-47, other nations, including the U.K., Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, and Russia, are also developing sixth-generation fighter programs.