The Air Force chose Boeing to build the F-47, a next-gen fighter jet replacing the F-22 with advanced tech and drone integration.

The F-35 will also serve as a test bed for technologies that will become commonplace in the next generation of jets. Flying in coordination with AI-enabled drones will become a staple of any sixth-generation fighter, and those new fighter tricks will likely first arrive in the form of the F-35.

Commercial satellite imagery shows that China's state-owned aviation company has dramatically expanded manufacturing facilities for military aircraft, including the fifth-generation J-20 fighter, with total fighter production capacity set to reach 300-400 units annually.

Those were two of the updates given by the commander of Space Launch Complex-30 at a presentation on Thursday.

Fighter jets remain one of the most important tools in modern military strategy. While new technologies like drones and hypersonic missiles are reshaping warfare, the ability to control the skies still depends on high-performance combat aircraft.

Taiwan, which faces a rising military threat from China, has complained of repeated delays to weapons ordered from the US, the most important international backer and arms supplier for the island

The AI that powered an F-16 in a dogfight against a manned aircraft is powering a new, fully autonomous fighter jet, its maker said as it unveiled the new aircraft design. US defense tech unicorn Shield AI unveiled its new X-BAT fighter aircraft on Wednesday.