What Weapons Will the F-47 Carry? Missiles, Bombs and Open Questions

The US Air Force has not confirmed a single weapon for the F-47, and anyone who gives a precise loadout is guessing. What can be said with confidence is narrower: the fighter will carry its weapons internally to stay stealthy, its main job is air-to-air combat, and it will arrive at the same time as a new long-range missile, the AIM-260.

This article sets out what is confirmed, what is a reasonable expectation based on current US programmes, and what remains unknown.

What has been confirmed

Very little. The Air Force describes the F-47’s mission as penetrating counter-air, meaning it must enter defended airspace and destroy enemy aircraft there. It has rated the aircraft’s stealth above that of the F-22, which rules out routine external carriage: weapons under the wings would undo the low radar signature.

The size and number of the weapons bays have not been disclosed, and officials have said the released renderings were altered to hide details. For the published figures on range and speed, see what the F-47 is.

The weapons it is most likely to carry

The table below is an informed expectation, not an official list. It is based on the weapons the Air Force is buying now for its stealth fighters and on what is known to fit in internal bays.

AIM-260: the missile the F-47 was timed for

The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile is the planned successor to the AIM-120 AMRAAM, which has armed American fighters since 1991. Lockheed Martin builds it. Its range is classified, but it was developed specifically to out-reach China’s PL-15, and it is the same length as the AMRAAM so that it fits existing weapons bays.

That makes it the natural primary weapon for a fighter built for the Pacific. We reported on the AIM-260 production agreement earlier this year. The AMRAAM will remain in the inventory for years and will almost certainly be cleared on the F-47 as well. For how today’s stealth fighter is armed, see which missiles the F-35 can fire.

Will it carry bombs?

Probably, but as a secondary role. The F-22 was designed as a pure fighter and gained a modest strike capability later, with two 1,000 lb JDAMs or eight small diameter bombs in its main bays. A fighter expected to operate deep inside enemy territory has an obvious use for weapons that can destroy radars and missile launchers.

The Stand-in Attack Weapon, a fast air-to-ground missile being developed by Northrop Grumman for internal carriage on stealth aircraft, is the most likely candidate. Large cruise missiles such as JASSM are too big for a fighter’s internal bay and are more likely to be launched by bombers or carried externally when stealth is not needed.

Will the F-47 have a gun?

Unknown. The F-22 has a 20 mm cannon, and the F-35A a 25 mm one. A gun adds weight and takes up space that could hold fuel, and a fighter designed to win at long range has less need of it. The Air Force has not said either way, and no rendering shows a gun port.

The drones are part of the answer

The F-47’s magazine will not be limited to what fits inside it. The fighter is designed to direct Collaborative Combat Aircraft, uncrewed jets that carry their own missiles. The Air Force’s planning assumption has been two drones for each crewed fighter, and one of the first designs has reportedly fired an inert AMRAAM in testing.

In practice that means a single F-47 could direct more missiles than it carries. The drones fly ahead and fire on the fighter’s targeting data, while the crewed aircraft stays further back and keeps its own weapons in reserve. It is one reason a simple missile count, as in our F-47 vs F-22 comparison, understates the difference between the two jets.

What is still unknown

The key numbers are all missing: how many bays, how many missiles, whether the bays can take larger weapons, and whether new munitions are being designed specifically for the aircraft. Officials have also spoken of electronic attack as a weapon in its own right, without details. More may become clear around the first flight planned for 2028, when real hardware has to appear in public.

Frequently asked questions

What missiles will the F-47 carry?

Nothing has been officially confirmed. The AIM-260 JATM long-range missile is the most likely main weapon, alongside the AIM-120 AMRAAM.

How many missiles can the F-47 carry?

That has not been disclosed. The F-22 it replaces carries eight air-to-air missiles internally, which is a reasonable benchmark but not a confirmed figure for the F-47.

Will the F-47 carry weapons internally?

Yes, almost certainly. Its stealth rating depends on keeping weapons inside the airframe, as on the F-22 and F-35.

Can the F-47 attack ground targets?

It is expected to have some strike capability, most likely against air defences, but its primary role is air-to-air combat. No ground-attack weapons have been confirmed.

Does the F-47 have a gun?

The Air Force has not said. No cannon is visible in the official renderings, which officials say were deliberately altered.

Will the F-47 carry hypersonic or laser weapons?

There is no official indication of either. Such claims are speculation at this stage.