Doha, May 17 – Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday raised the possibility of developing a new twin-engine warplane called the F-55, alongside an extensive upgrade to the F-22 Raptor, signaling a renewed push in U.S. air power capabilities amid growing industry competition.
Speaking at a business leaders’ summit in Doha – which included executives from Boeing and GE Aerospace – Trump said the F-55 would serve as both a “super upgrade” to the Lockheed Martin F-35 and a new-generation aircraft platform. He also outlined plans for an advanced version of the out-of-production F-22, dubbed the F-22 Super.
“We’re going to do an F-55… two engines and a super upgrade on the F-35,” Trump said. “Then we’re going to do the F-22 Super – a very modern version of the F-22 fighter jet. We’re going to be going with it pretty quickly.”
Trump’s remarks come a day after he announced a package of commercial aviation deals with Qatar, including a 160-jet order for Boeing, and weeks after awarding Boeing the contract for the F-47, a next-generation fighter aircraft designed to eventually replace the F-22.
Lockheed Martin, which lost out to Boeing on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, has since floated plans for a “fifth-generation-plus” aircraft. CEO James Taiclet said the company was looking to adapt its F-35 design using technology developed for its unsuccessful NGAD bid.
“We’re basically going to take the [F-35] chassis and turn it into a Ferrari,” Taiclet told analysts, promising 80% of sixth-gen capability at half the cost.
In a statement, Lockheed said: “We thank President Trump for his support of the F-35 and F-22 and will continue to work closely with the Administration to realize its vision for air dominance.”
Analysts say it remains unclear whether the F-55 represents a completely new program or an existing effort such as the F/A-XX, a proposed sixth-generation Navy jet to replace the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
“Adding an engine to the F-35 makes it a new aircraft,” said Francis Tusa, a UK-based defence analyst. “This is not a simple upgrade—it implies a full-scale development project.”
The F-22, praised for its stealth and agility, has been a point of contention within U.S. defence circles. The U.S. Air Force has repeatedly sought to retire portions of the fleet to divert funds to next-gen platforms, facing pushback from Congress.
Any significant upgrade to the F-22 – which has been out of production since 2011 – would require major investment. Trump’s announcement also adds complexity to U.S. defence planning, which is already juggling competing priorities across the Air Force and Navy.
The timing and funding of these proposed programs remain uncertain. Reuters reported this week that the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX program has met resistance from lawmakers, with a decision on the winning contractor still pending.
Lockheed is also managing delays to key F-35 technology and software upgrades, meant to improve cockpit displays and processing power in the current fleet.
While Trump’s proposals may offer a bold vision for air dominance, defense analysts warn that significant clarity will be needed from the Pentagon to determine how – or if – these initiatives align with existing strategy and procurement budgets.
