Boeing will spearhead development of the U.S. Air Force's futuristic fighter and drone coordinator, the F-47, following a secretive competition and fits and starts within the service. Why it matters: The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) effort is meant to succeed the F-22 and be a linchpin for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).

For the first time in its history, the U.S. Air Force has designated two prototype drones as unmanned fighter aircraft, marking a new era in aerial warfare. The YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, developed by General Atomics and Anduril,