Boeing Defense Strike Threatens F-47 Fighter & US Military Aircraft Production

Aerospace titan Boeing is confronting substantial operational disruptions as approximately 3,200 employees within its defense unit have initiated a strike, sparking concerns over the production timelines for critical U.S. military aircraft. This labor dispute, primarily centered in the St. Louis facilities, could significantly impact the assembly and maintenance of existing fleets such as the F-15 and F/A-18 Hornet. More critically, it represents a potential impediment to the development of the nascent F-47, a next-generation fighter jet personally championed by President Donald Trump as a cornerstone of future air superiority.

• Approximately 3,200 Boeing defense unit employees in St. Louis have initiated a strike.
• The strike affects production and maintenance for critical military aircraft, including the F-15, F/A-18, T-7, MQ-25, and potentially the future F-47 fighter jet.
• The dispute stems from the rejection of a four-year contract offer that included an average 40% wage increase and a $5,000 ratification bonus.
• The F-47 next-generation fighter program, a strategic priority, already faces technical delays, with engine readiness pushed back by over two years to Q2 FY2030.
• Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security unit reported nearly $11 billion in losses from late 2021 through 2022, largely due to fixed-price Pentagon contracts.

Strike Impact and Labor Dynamics

This industrial action, involving District 837 workers, has halted work on the Air Force’s F-15 fighter, the Navy and Marine Corps’ F/A-18 Hornet, the T-7 trainer, and the MQ-25 aerial refueling unmanned aircraft. While Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg downplayed the immediate effects, asserting the walkout is “much, much less than last year’s Seattle strike of 30,000 workers,” historical data suggests that even smaller stoppages can incur substantial costs. The 2022 Seattle strike, for instance, led to $5.5 billion in lost earnings over 54 days for Boeing, according to Anderson Economic Group, also delaying deliveries of aircraft like the KC-46. In response, Boeing has activated contingency plans, potentially utilizing non-union or third-party personnel to mitigate disruptions.

At the heart of the current dispute is a rejected four-year contract offer. As reported by Reuters, the proposal encompassed an average wage increase of approximately 40%, a 20% general wage increase, and a $5,000 ratification bonus, alongside enhanced vacation and sick leave provisions. Sam Cicinelli, IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President, affirmed that members “deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise.” Conversely, Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance Vice President, expressed disappointment that employees rejected an offer designed to resolve their primary concerns and featuring significant wage growth, reaffirming the company’s preparedness with contingency measures.

This labor challenge coincides with existing hurdles for Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security unit. The division previously reported nearly $11 billion in losses from late 2021 through 2022, largely attributed to fixed-price Pentagon contracts that shifted cost overruns to the company, including for new Air Force One jets. While the unit has recently returned to profitability this year, the ongoing strike introduces new financial and operational pressures. Should the dispute escalate or key tasks be postponed, Boeing may need to seek program extensions with the Department of Defense, potentially shifting downstream deliveries and readiness support for various fighter programs.

Programmatic Challenges for the F-47

The F-47, intended to replace the aging F-22 fleet with 185 planned aircraft, represents a strategic leap in air combat capabilities. It promises enhanced stealth, an AI-assisted cockpit designed for continuous upgrades, and integration as a command and control node for collaborative combat aircraft or drone swarms. While the Air Force anticipates the aircraft’s initial flight between 2025 and 2029, full operational deployment is not expected until the early 2030s.

Furthermore, the F-47 program has already encountered separate, significant technical delays. The advanced engines for the aircraft, developed under the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program by GE Aerospace and RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney, have seen their readiness timeline pushed back by over two years. Fiscal year 2025 budget documents initially projected engine designs by Q4 FY2027, but the Trump administration’s FY2026 budget request indicates a revised timeline to Q2 FY2030, a shift confirmed by an Air Force spokesperson as reflecting “supply challenges” of the program.

This confluence of industrial action and independent technical setbacks underscores the complex challenges facing major defense programs and their potential ripple effects on national strategic priorities and fiscal planning.