U.S. Accelerates Development of F-47 Fighter and CCA Combat Drones as China Advances J-36 and J-50

China’s rapid progress on the J-36 and J-50 next-generation stealth fighter programs is prompting the United States to accelerate development of the F-47 sixth-generation fighter and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) autonomous drone systems as Washington prepares for a potential Indo-Pacific conflict. Senior Pentagon leaders warned lawmakers on May 20, 2026, that preserving U.S. air superiority is becoming increasingly critical as Beijing expands its capabilities in stealth aviation, long-range strike operations, and AI-enabled warfare designed to challenge American power projection across the Pacific. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link …

Artist rendering of the U.S. Air Force’s future F-47 sixth-generation fighter, the centerpiece of the Pentagon’s Next Generation Air Dominance program, designed to strengthen air superiority, penetrate contested airspace, and support future combat operations against advanced peer threats in the Indo-Pacific region. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)

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