Will the F-47 Be Exported? What Trump and Allies Have Said

No country has ordered the F-47, and the United States has not formally offered it to anyone. The question is open only because President Donald Trump raised it himself. On the day the contract was announced he said allies were calling about the aircraft and that they might receive “toned-down versions”. Two months later a Japanese newspaper reported that he had mentioned the jet to Japan’s prime minister.

This article separates remarks from policy. It sets out what has been said, what the F-22 precedent tells us, and the obstacles any export would face.

What has actually been said

At the White House on 21 March 2025, Trump said US allies “are calling constantly” about the new fighter. He then described how an export model might differ: “Certain allies … perhaps toned-down versions. We’d like to tone them down about 10 percent, which probably makes sense, because someday, maybe they’re not our allies, right?”

That is the only statement on exports from the top of the US government. The Air Force has published no export policy for the F-47, and Boeing has not named any prospective customer. Because development is at an early stage and the first aircraft is not due to fly until 2028, there is nothing yet to sell.

The remark about allies who may one day not be allies was widely noted abroad. It arrived at a time when several European governments were already debating how much they depend on American combat aircraft.

The Japan report

In late May 2025 the Asahi Shimbun reported that Trump had brought up the F-47 in a telephone call with Shigeru Ishiba, then Japan’s prime minister, and had asked whether he agreed that 47 was a good number. Japanese officials confirmed the conversation, according to the paper, and said it was not linked to tariff talks.

Nothing suggests Tokyo has taken the matter further. Japan is a full partner with Britain and Italy in the Global Combat Air Programme, which aims to field its own sixth-generation fighter in 2035. Buying the F-47 would cut across that commitment. We compare the two aircraft in F-47 vs GCAP.

The F-22 precedent

The last American air superiority fighter was never exported. In 1998 Congress passed the Obey amendment, which bars the sale of the F-22 to any foreign government, and it has been renewed ever since. Japan, Australia and Israel all showed interest. None was allowed to buy. The background is in our piece on the fighter the US refuses to sell.

The consequences shape the present debate. Without foreign orders, F-22 production ended in 2011 after 187 operational aircraft, and the cost per aircraft stayed high. Some American commentators now argue that the F-47 should be offered to close allies precisely to avoid a repeat, and to spread the cost across a longer production run.

No law currently forbids F-47 exports. Congress could add one, as it did for the F-22, and any sale would in any case need approval under US arms export rules.

The obstacles

Price comes first. There is no official figure, but estimates for the F-47 run from about $180 million to $300 million each, as our cost guide explains. Frank Kendall, the former Air Force secretary, has said he doubts allies would pay that much for an aircraft, particularly a downgraded one.

Technology is the second barrier. The F-47’s stealth, sensors and software are the most sensitive the United States has. A version with reduced capability would have to be designed, tested and supported separately, which costs money and engineering time.

Capacity is the third. Boeing’s St. Louis plant now has to build both the F-47 and the Navy’s F/A-XX. American orders will come first, and the Air Force has spoken of at least 185 aircraft.

Trust is the fourth. A buyer has to believe that spare parts, software updates and mission data will keep coming for forty years. The suggestion that export aircraft would be deliberately weakened does not help that case.

Who is named as a possible buyer

Press commentary tends to name the same few countries. None of their governments has asked for the aircraft.

Europe’s position has shifted since the award. The Franco-German FCAS fighter was abandoned in June 2026, leaving Germany and Spain without a sixth-generation project. Even so, the debate there has centred on joining GCAP or buying more existing aircraft.

Frequently asked questions

Has any country ordered the F-47?

No. There are no export orders and no publicly known formal requests.

Did Trump offer the F-47 to Japan?

A Japanese newspaper reported in May 2025 that he raised it in a call with the prime minister. Japan has not said it wants the aircraft and is committed to the GCAP programme.

What did Trump mean by toned-down versions?

He said export aircraft might have about 10 per cent less capability than American ones. No such version has been defined.

Is F-47 export banned like the F-22?

Not at present. The F-22 ban is a specific law passed in 1998. Congress would have to pass a similar measure for the F-47.

How much would an export F-47 cost?

Unknown. Estimates for the US version range from about $180 million to $300 million per aircraft.

When could exports begin?

Not before the 2030s. The aircraft has not flown yet and US Air Force orders will be filled first.