Trump announces Boeing wins contract for secretive future fighter jet

Boeing will build the US Air Force’s future fighter jet, Donald Trump announced on Friday (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

US President Donald Trump has announced that Boeing will build the air force’s future fighter jet, which the Pentagon says will have stealth and penetration capabilities that far exceed those of its current fleet and is essential in a potential conflict with China.

Known as Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, the manned jet will serve as quarterback to a fleet of future drone aircraft designed to be able to penetrate the air defences of China and any other potential foes.