How the Air Force Designated Its Next Fighter Jet 'F-47' [View all]
I’ve long been fascinated with the military’s naming conventions. More than a decade ago, US Central Command unveiled “Operation Inherent Resolve,” its campaign to defeat the Islamic State. Right after, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with CENTCOM to find out how the military settled on that name. Two years later, I ended up with an incredible set of documents that detailed the discussions that took place between the Joint Chiefs of Staff, experts and top military brass as they debated three different names for the operation.
They settled on “Inherent Resolve” because it would cover a broader campaign against the Islamic State, according to the documents. It was also chosen because it translated well into Arabic and was “safe enough for Arab and Western Coalition members,” a CENTCOM official wrote in an email.
Fast forward. On March 21, Trump announced from the Oval Office that he directed the Air Force to move forward “with the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet.” With Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth standing by his side, he touted the new fighter jet’s “speed,” “maneuverability” and “payload,” saying it promises to be something “the likes of which nobody has seen before.”
“Nothing in the world comes even close to it,” Trump said. “It’ll be known as the F-47. The generals picked the title. It’s a beautiful number.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-06-20/air-force-fighter-jet-f-47-how-the-military-aircraft-got-its-name
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