Detailed analysis of the technical differences between the F-47 and the F-22 Raptor, two stealth fighter planes from different generations.
The F-47 program is attracting increasing attention in the aeronautical and military communities. Designed as the successor to the F-22 Raptor, one of the most sophisticated fighter planes ever produced, the F-47 embodies a technical overhaul of the American approach to air superiority. Its development comes at a strategic moment marked by the rise of the Chinese and Russian fleets and by the growing limitations of the F-22, whose production line was halted in 2011 after 187 units had been delivered. The industrial choices made around the F-47 reveal a desire to rationalize costs, extend operational versatility and integrate more fluidly with collaborative digital combat architectures.
Structural design of the F-47 fighter jet compared to the F-22 Raptor
According to the initial data released in specialized circles, the F-47 is in visual continuity with the F-22, but with significant changes in materials, wings and modular configuration. The fuselage of the F-47 adopts a composite structure reinforced by thermoplastic alloys with a ceramic matrix. This combination reduces the weight by 8% compared to the F-22, whose empty weight is 19,700 kg. The F-47 weighs around 18,100 kg.
The wing, designed as an evolutionary delta wing, improves endurance and lift. The F-22’s range without refueling is 2,960 km. The F-47’s would reach 3,700 km, an increase of nearly 25%. This gain is also explained by an optimized internal configuration to accommodate more fuel in the airframe, without external pylons.
The architecture of the fuselage is also designed to reduce radar and infrared signatures. The F-22 has a Radar Cross Section (RCS) of less than 0.0001 m². The F-47 would benefit from new passive radar absorption techniques integrated into the structural layers, and not simply via an external RAM coating, which is more fragile and costly to maintain.
The variable air intake of the F-22, sometimes subject to instabilities at high altitude, is replaced in the F-47 by an adaptive digital variable geometry inlet (VAID), coupled with an on-board thermal regulation system. This device allows for more stable engine speeds at high speed, without inlet turbulence.
Finally, the modularity of the F-47 facilitates its logistical adaptation. Subsystems can now be replaced without major disassembly. This is crucial in terms of maintaining operational readiness (MCO) deployed in the theater, whereas the F-22 requires heavy equipment at a rear base.
Propulsion systems and energy management
The F-22 Raptor uses two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines, each delivering 156 kN of thrust with afterburner. The F-47 is switching to a new generation of engines, derived from the technologies of the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. These are three-stream adaptive cycle engines capable of modulating air flow according to flight regime.
The nominal thrust is 170 kN per engine, but with an 18% reduction in consumption in subsonic cruising. In stealth configuration, this reduction in consumption extends the mission time by an average of an additional 45 minutes. Bench tests also indicate better thermal behavior in prolonged supersonic flight, with peaks at Mach 2.3 compared to Mach 2.25 for the F-22.
The F-47 also incorporates a distributed energy system with high-capacity lithium-ceramic batteries. This system powers the sensors, directed energy weapons and countermeasures without overloading the main generator. This energy decoupling reduces vulnerability to electromagnetic interference and allows for the simultaneous use of new-generation weaponry, including a 100 kW laser cannon in prototype integration.
The system is cooled by an on-board cryogenic circuit, which is an important development compared to the F-22, whose thermal regulation systems have remained on a hydraulic closed-loop model.
The integration of collaborative combat and sensor systems
The main operational difference between the F-47 and the F-22 lies in the digital architecture. The F-22 suffers from a partially proprietary interface, limiting its connectivity with modern tactical networks. Its link 16 is restricted by bandwidth constraints and incompatibilities with joint C2 ISR architectures.
The F-47 is based on an open infrastructure that complies with OMS (Open Mission Systems) standards. This approach allows for the native integration of third-party sensors, drone swarms and automated in-flight software update modules. The F-47 can exchange targeting data in real time with ground platforms, LEO satellites or remote electronic warfare systems.
In terms of sensors, the F-22 is equipped with an AN/APG-77 AESA radar with a range of 240 km against aerial targets. The F-47 is moving to a derivative version of the AN/APG-85, whose effective range exceeds 300 km, with twice the resolution in SAR mode. It also has a multispectral optoelectronic sensor that can be directed from the nose, capable of targeting 360° in infrared, visible and UV.
The F-47 cockpit no longer has traditional screens, but a 360° HUD helmet interface coupled with a retinal lens display, with gesture and voice recognition. This device limits visual distractions and improves simultaneous multisensory engagement.
The industrial cost and associated doctrinal issues
The unit cost of the F-22 Raptor at the end of production reached 180 million USD (approximately 166 million EUR). The F-47 is announced with an industrial target of between 140 and 160 million USD, or 130 to 148 million EUR, despite more advanced components. This relative decrease is explained by a modular production logic based on standardized units printed in 3D and pre-assembled.
The average manufacturing time for an F-22 was 34 months. That of the F-47 would be reduced to 19 months, with a lighter maintenance cycle (intermediate level maintenance that can be relocated to an advanced base).
From a doctrinal point of view, the F-47 is no longer just an air superiority fighter. It is designed as a tactical node for distributed air combat, with a role in drone fleet management, theater communication relay and multi-sensor precision strike.
The limitations of the F-22, particularly in terms of lateral detection, collaborative processing and maintenance costs, are explicitly targeted by the F-47. The latter meets the operational requirements of asymmetric conflicts, hybrid wars and high-density electronic environments, without being confined to a single mission.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.