Exclusive Report: U.S. Air Force Leaders Urge Deep Tactical Shift with New F-47 and B-21 Aircraft to Counter China Threats.

In testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, senior officials from the U.S. Air Force and Space Force delivered a clear and urgent message: the American airpower structure is being recalibrated to address advanced threats from strategic competitors, with a sharp focus on tactical innovation and modernization of combat systems. With the rise of peer adversaries such as China, the Air Force leadership emphasized that maintaining tactical superiority requires a new generation of aircraft, deeper integration across domains, and rapid adaptation of operational doctrine.
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U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin outlines key modernization efforts, including the F-47 NGAD fighter, Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and critical upgrades to the F-35 Lightning II and F-15 Eagle, during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

At the center of this tactical evolution is the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, a sixth-generation aircraft currently in development. The F-47 is not just a successor to the fifth-generation platforms but a transformative leap designed for survivability and lethality in highly contested environments. Its advanced stealth profile will minimize detection by enemy radars, while its open-systems architecture will allow for seamless integration of new sensors, weapons, and mission software. The aircraft is expected to feature enhanced propulsion systems capable of supercruise, along with sophisticated data fusion capabilities that enable pilots to receive real-time, multidomain situational awareness. Additionally, the F-47 will be fully interoperable with unmanned systems, reflecting the Air Force’s shift toward distributed and manned-unmanned teamed operations.

Complementing the F-47 is the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative, which introduces a family of AI-powered, unmanned aerial vehicles that will operate in tandem with manned fighters. These drones will serve in multiple roles, including electronic warfare, forward sensing, jamming, decoy operations, and even strike missions. Controlled by human pilots from a lead aircraft like the F-47 or F-35, CCAs are designed to extend the reach, survivability, and lethality of Air Force strike packages while reducing the risk to human life. They will act as force multipliers, enhancing combat effectiveness in high-threat environments and enabling a swarm-based approach to overwhelm enemy defenses.

While next-generation platforms are the future, today’s fleet still plays a critical role. The U.S. Air Force continues to invest in upgrades for the F-35 Lightning II, including improved radar, advanced electronic warfare systems, and expanded weapons capabilities. Similarly, the F-15EX Eagle II provides a high-payload, high-sortie rate option for air superiority and strike missions, offering a crucial capability bridge as older fourth-generation aircraft are phased out. However, legacy platforms like the F-16 Fighting Falcon continue to face readiness issues, with mission capable rates around 62 percent. Gen. David Allvin emphasized that these platforms require targeted maintenance and modernization to remain viable during the transition to newer systems.

Strategic strike capabilities are another cornerstone of the U.S. Air Force’s modernization campaign. The B-21 Raider, a long-range stealth bomber, will play a pivotal role in deep strike missions, providing the ability to penetrate advanced enemy air defenses and deliver precision-guided munitions. The Raider's design incorporates next-generation stealth, autonomous operation options, and high survivability. Alongside this, the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program will replace the aging Minuteman III system, ensuring the continued reliability of the United States' ground-based nuclear deterrent. Additionally, the B-52 Stratofortress is being upgraded with new engines, radar systems, and digital avionics, extending its operational life and effectiveness into the 2050s.

Space-based capabilities have also become tightly interwoven with tactical air operations. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman highlighted the increasing dependence of air and joint forces on satellite-enabled communications, navigation, and missile warning systems. The U.S. Space Force is taking on new missions, including supporting missile defense architectures like the Golden Dome. Despite this, funding shortfalls risk creating operational gaps, especially as adversaries enhance their ability to target space assets through jamming, cyberattacks, and kinetic strikes.

The testimony also addressed operational resilience in the Indo-Pacific region. Concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. military assets concentrated in areas like Guam prompted Air Force leaders to outline a strategy of distributed basing and agile combat employment. This involves pre-positioning supplies, establishing multiple dispersed operating locations, and training forces for rapid redeployment under contested conditions. These measures aim to increase the survivability and effectiveness of U.S. forces in the event of conflict with a technologically capable adversary.

Finally, U.S. Air Force officials acknowledged that modernization is not only about hardware but also about people. Recruitment, retention, and support for airmen and their families remain critical, particularly in a competitive labor market and under fiscal pressure. Enhancing training, improving quality of life, and fostering a resilient force culture are seen as vital to sustaining long-term readiness.

The overarching message from the U.S. Air Force and Space Force leadership is that the nature of warfare is changing rapidly. Future conflicts will demand speed, precision, and adaptability across all domains. Maintaining tactical dominance in the air and space will require not just new equipment, but also a fundamental shift in how the Air Force fights, operates, and sustains its forces. With continued congressional support, the U.S. Air Force aims to remain the cornerstone of American power in the years ahead.