WASHINGTON: Donald Trump announced on Friday that Boeing has been awarded the contract for the US Air Force’s next-generation fighter plane, which the 47th US president said would be named the F-47.

“Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it’ll be known as the F-47. The generals picked a title, and it’s a beautiful number, F-47,” said Trump at the White House.

The announcement is a boon for Boeing, which struggled last year with a lengthy labour strike and safety problems on its civilian airliners.

The contract aims to develop the replacement for the F-22 jet – which has been in operation for some two decades – with a new, more advanced aircraft able to operate alongside uncrewed drones.

“After a rigorous and thorough competition between some of the US’s top aerospace companies, the air force is going to be awarding the contract for the next generation air dominance (NGAD) platform to Boeing,” Trump said in televised remarks in the Oval Office.

He said the price of the contract could not be revealed for security reasons.

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking alongside Trump, said the new aircraft “sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere, and to our enemies that… we will be able to project power around the globe unimpeded for generations to come.”

Boeing said in a statement that the NGAD selection “builds on Boeing’s fighter legacy and establishes a new global standard for 6th generation capability.”

Boeing is also competing with Northrop Grumman for a contract for the US Navy’s next-generation aircraft.