US President Donald Trump made an announcement that shook the American defense and aerospace establishment: Boeing would develop the next-generation, sixth-generation air-superiority fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force—officially named the F-47. The declaration marked a turning point in U.S. airpower history, as the highly anticipated Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program passed over Lockheed Martin, the defense titan behind the F-35 Lightning II.
For Lockheed Martin, the defeat was sharp and public. Just days prior, it had also exited the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX competition, meaning it had no stake in either of the Pentagon’s two future-generation fighter jet programs. Yet, instead of retreating, Lockheed has pivoted.
And in that pivot lies a bold, possibly game-changing proposal: upgrade the F-35 into a “5th Generation Plus” fighter by integrating 80% of the sixth-generation technology developed for the now-lost NGAD program. The move not only salvages millions of dollars in R&D investment but could potentially reshape U.S. airpower strategy with a cost-effective, near-peer alternative to the F-47.
At a recent earnings call, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet outlined the company’s plan to retrofit its flagship F-35 Lightning II fighter with breakthrough technologies originally designed for its NGAD prototype.
“We’re basically going to take the [F-35] chassis and turn it into a Ferrari,” Taiclet said, invoking a “NASCAR upgrade” analogy. “We apply some of those co-funded technologies both from NGAD and the F-35 program. Eventually, there’ll be 3,500 of those chassis out there at various stages of technology and capability worldwide. We think we can get most of the way to sixth-generation at half the cost.”
That “half the cost” claim is critical.
While Boeing’s upcoming F-47 could cost upwards of $300 million per aircraft, the upgraded F-35 could deliver many of the same benefits at a fraction of the price. Given the budgetary concerns that already stalled parts of the NGAD program last year, Lockheed’s proposal could appeal to defense planners wary of ballooning procurement costs.
Sixth-generation fighters represent a leap beyond incremental advancement. While fifth-gen aircraft like the F-35 introduced stealth, sensor fusion, and networked warfare, sixth-gen designs aim for transformational capabilities.
Multi-spectral stealth across radar, IR, visual, and acoustic signatures
Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)—with loyal wingmen drones
AI-based autonomy for decision-making and threat evaluation
Directed energy weapons (DEWs) like high-powered lasers
Advanced EW suites capable of jamming, spoofing, and cyber defense
Integrated combat cloud and sensor fusion for network-centric warfare
Next-gen propulsion systems with supercruise and extended range
The Pentagon’s goal isn’t just to win dogfights—but to avoid them altogether by striking enemies before they even know they’re being tracked.
While Lockheed has kept most upgrade specifics classified, Taiclet dropped some hints.
Among the likely additions are:
Advanced Passive Infrared Sensors – These could allow the F-35 to detect enemy aircraft at great distances without emitting radar signals that give away its location.
Improved Stealth Materials and Geometry – Borrowed from its NGAD prototype, these would further reduce radar cross-section and IR signature.
Enhanced Command and Control – AI-enabled systems that allow seamless coordination with drones and other aircraft, forming the backbone of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).
Next-Gen Tracking and Targeting – New sensor fusion tech and long-range weaponry designed to preempt enemy moves.
Although Taiclet wouldn’t confirm it, defense insiders speculate that the F-35 could be armed with directed energy weapons and integrated with loyal wingman drones, which would effectively make it a flying command post in a digital battlespace.
As Taiclet emphasized, “It’s got to be scalable, it’s got to be affordable, it’s got to work every time.”
The timing of Lockheed’s move also aligns with its ongoing struggle to roll out the long-promised Block 4 upgrade for the F-35, which includes advanced sensors, updated software, and improved mission capabilities. Plagued by delays and software backlogs, Block 4 has become a sore spot for both Lockheed and the Pentagon.
But by reframing the future roadmap as a transition toward a “5th Gen Plus” configuration, Lockheed may have found a way to bypass the narrative of delay—and replace it with one of innovation.
Lockheed is also analyzing what could constitute Block 5 and beyond—and the sixth-gen tech may be baked directly into those packages, further enhancing the F-35’s relevance over the next 30 years.
Lockheed’s strategy isn’t just about retaining Pentagon contracts—it’s about protecting its global footprint. Over 20 countries currently operate or have ordered the F-35, and a sixth-gen tech infusion could make the aircraft far more appealing to allied nations wary of the eye-watering costs associated with new fighter development.
“Our goal is to make as much of this capability as we can exportable to allies,” Taiclet said. “We try to design [technology] in a way that’s hopeful.”
Export decisions will still be subject to U.S. government approval, but there’s clear strategic logic in keeping allies interoperable on the F-35 platform, especially as China and Russia accelerate their own sixth-gen fighter efforts.
In fact, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced last December that it’s already integrating sixth-gen tech into its Su-57 fighter—a move that mirrors Lockheed’s strategy.
Here lies the big question: Is a retrofitted F-35 truly capable of matching a purpose-built sixth-generation platform like Boeing’s F-47?
The jury is still out.
Some experts argue that sixth-gen aircraft involve fundamental design changes that can’t be replicated by upgrading legacy platforms. These include new airframe shapes for better stealth, adaptive engines for optimized performance, and a “digital-first” architecture designed around AI integration from the ground up.
As IAF Group Capt MJ Augustine Vinod put it: “Unlike incremental upgrades, the sixth-generation transition is transformative.”
Yet, Lockheed’s approach isn’t without precedent. Boeing’s F-15EX, a modernized version of the Cold War-era F-15, has found renewed success by integrating 4.5-generation capabilities like modern radar and avionics into a trusted airframe.
Lockheed hopes to apply the same logic—just several magnitudes more ambitiously.
The clash between Lockheed’s F-35 upgrade strategy and Boeing’s NGAD vision reflects a broader debate in defense procurement: should the military prioritize cutting-edge, risk-heavy innovation—or practical, scalable upgrades that deliver results now?
Taiclet’s answer leans pragmatic.
“Value is important,” he said. “And maybe as or more important than the highest technology available.”
If the F-35 can deliver 80% of the F-47’s performance at 50% of the cost—and if it’s already in service with allies around the world—then the Pentagon could decide that’s a better return on investment.
Especially if geopolitical tensions escalate and demand faster delivery of deployable, combat-ready aircraft.
The outcome of this technological race doesn’t just determine which company gets a bigger contract—it could redefine America’s approach to air dominance for decades.
Boeing’s F-47 may become the elite tip of the spear, but Lockheed’s upgraded F-35s could serve as the workhorse backbone of the U.S. and allied air forces.
Together, they might represent a two-tiered airpower model:
F-47s for contested airspace penetration and high-risk operations
“5th Gen Plus” F-35s for joint missions, loyal wingman deployment, and broad-spectrum engagements
This hybrid approach could prove more resilient, scalable, and cost-effective than relying solely on a fleet of ultra-expensive sixth-gen jets.
Lockheed Martin’s plan to retrofit the F-35 with sixth-gen technologies may have been born out of necessity, but it now stands as a calculated and potentially revolutionary strategy. The company is betting that incremental, scalable innovation—backed by its massive installed base of over 1,100 F-35s—can compete with Boeing’s all-new, high-risk approach.
As defense budgets tighten and global threats grow more sophisticated, adaptability might outweigh ambition. And in this new phase of air warfare, the upgraded F-35 could prove that you don’t always need a new plane to fly into the future—just a smarter way to evolve the one you already have.
