How Many Military Aircraft Does Boeing Produce Annually?

Boeing is one of the prime military contractors supplying many of the fighter jets and other military aircraft used by the United States armed forces and many allies. While Boeing lost the competition to build fifth-generation fighter jets ( Lockheed Martin won both the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II programs), it has won the contract to build the sixth-generation F-47 for the Air Force.

As Boeing’s primary business is commercial aircraft, it is able to leverage its position to not only build fighter jets but also offer militarized versions of its commercial aircraft. Boeing is also one of the world’s leading military helicopter contractors. Here is what to know about how many military aircraft Boeing produces annually.

Boeing Fighter Jet Production

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Boeing currently produces two types of fighter jets: the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-15 Eagle family, both of which were inherited from its merger with McDonnell Douglas. In 2022, it delivered 14 Super Hornets. In 2023, that number was 22, 11 in 2024, and nine by mid-2025. Production of the Super Hornet is nearing its end.

The Navy is believed to have placed its final order for the fighter jet when it placed the $1.4 billion order for 17 Block III aircraft with Boeing in March 2024. With no more export orders to fulfill and no more export orders anticipated, production is expected to end in 2027. The Navy is now focused on purchasing the longer-ranged and more advanced F-35C and developing the even longer-ranged F/A-XX. The F/A-18 is seen as struggling with range requirements for the Navy in future conflicts in the Pacific.

Production of the F-15EX II is likely to continue well into the 2030s. Congress is looking to award Boeing more funding to ramp up production, with Boeing planning to build two per month by the end of 2026 (24 per year). In 2022, Boeing delivered 12 Eagles, followed by nine in 2023, 14 in 2024, and four by the second quarter of 2025. In March 2024, Boeing said it had 90 Eagles at various stages of production. Meanwhile, in 2024, Israel placed another order for 25 Eagles, and the first of these is expected to be delivered in 2031.

Boeing’s Militarized Commercial Deliveries

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Boeing is currently delivering two types of advanced military aircraft based on commercial aircraft. One is the Boeing KC-25A Pegasus, based on the Boeing 767. The US Air Force is planning to purchase a total of 179 aircraft, although this may be increased to 188. The Pegasus has fared poorly on the export market, being mostly outcompeted by the rival Airbus MRTT (based on the A330). Still, the Pegasus has been ordered by close US allies, Japan and Israel.

Boeing delivered 15 KC-45As in 2022, followed by 13 in 2023, 10 in 2024, and five by mid-2025. Boeing shows 61 tankers remain on order by the USAF, four for Israel, and two for Japan. Another aircraft type is the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, although delivery numbers are falling as most orders have been fulfilled. Boeing delivered 12 in 2022, 11 in 2023, four in 2024, and two by mid-2025. Boeing’s data shows six remaining on order.

Boeing is also delivering the E-7 Wegdetail AWACS aircraft in low numbers, although it doesn’t appear to be itemized in Boeing’s data. Boeing is currently delivering the first of up to five examples intended for the Royal Air Force. The USAF was planning to purchase up to 26, while NATO is planning to purchase six. However, there is debate in Washington now with the Pentagon saying it wants to cancel the program, while Congress may move to provide the funding anyway.

Boeing’s Military Helicopters

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Boeing is currently delivering three types of helicopters. These are the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter, and the MH-139 Grey Wolf multirole helicopter. The MH-139 is a variant of the Italian Leonardo AW139 and is built by Boeing for the United States Air Force.

Delivery numbers of helicopters are somewhat complicated, as Boeing also strips down and “remanufactures” Apaches and “renews” Chinooks, making them as good as new. Boeing is one of the great manufacturers of Western military helicopters, with the other three being Airbus Helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft, and Bell Textron. Notably, Bell leads with tiltrotor aircraft, being the primary contractor of the CV-22 Osprey program and having won the Army’s Bell V-280 Valor (now MV-75) program.

Looking forward, there is not likely to be any direct replacement for the CH-47 transport helicopter for a long time. At the same time, there is an ongoing debate on the future of the attack helicopter and whether they have become too vulnerable on the battlefield. While South Korea has canceled a recent order for Apaches, Poland has placed a large order for almost 100 examples.

Boeing’s Upcoming Production

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Boeing has at least three significant programs going into production. One is the T-7 Red Hawk advanced jet trainer for the United States Air Force. Boeing delivered two test examples in 2024, and the jet is set to go into serial production in 2026. The aircraft has been developed with Sweden’s Saab and is to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon. It may be developed into a light fighter variant.

Another significant program in the works is the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueling drone. The aircraft has been developed for the Navy’s Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System (CBARS) program. The MQ-25 first flew in 2019, and the Navy is planning to procure 76 of the aircraft. Boeing is expected to deliver the first serial production aircraft in late 2026.

In 2025, Boeing was awarded the contract to provide the Air Force with its next-generation fighter jet, the F-47 (formerly NGAD). It is known that the demonstrator has been flying since 2020, and the type is expected to be in service before 2030, as the DoD goes all in to bring it into service as soon as possible. Compared to previous-generation aircraft, the F-47 is only expected to be procured in low numbers, with the Air Force expected to order 185+ examples. The program is shrouded in secrecy, and no images of it are publicly available.

Outlook For Future Boeing Military Aircraft Production

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Looking forward, Boeing is unlikely to deliver manned military aircraft in the numbers it did in the past, with emphasis switching to unmanned systems. While the order for E-7 Wedgetails may be cut, the order for Pegasus tankers will likely increase as the Air Force badly needs new tankers. The MQ-25 Stingray has been developed for the Navy, but the Air Force could end up ordering a land-based variant, depending on what happens with its current NGAS program.

Production of the Super Hornet is about to wind down, while Boeing is gearing up to put the F-47 into production. The F-47 will only be produced in low numbers, but it will be large, incredibly complicated, and advanced. Boeing appears to be missing out on the unmanned combat aircraft or loyal wingman programs (called Collaborative Combat Aircraft or CCAs by the USAF). Here, General Atomics and Anduril appear to be ahead.

Boeing lost (with Sikorsky) the US Army’s FLRAA program to build the next-generation utility and assault helicopter to partially replace the ubiquitous Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. Boeing will continue to sustain existing fleets of Chinooks and Apaches for years to come, although it is unclear how many new orders for these types it will receive. The Apache, in particular, faces an uncertain future.

One Of The “Big Three”

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Following the post-Cold War series of US aerospace mergers, Boeing was left as one of the big three US aerospace defense companies able to design and produce advanced military fighter jets from start to finish. The other two are Northrop-Grumman (which is producing the B-21 Raider) and Lockheed-Martin (which is producing the F-35 and F-16).

Other major US aerospace defense contractors include RTX Corporation (which includes Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney, and Collins), General Atomics, L3Harris Technologies, GE Aerospace, Anduril, Sikorsky Aircraft, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Bell Textron, and others. Some of these companies heavily modify existing aircraft (like L3Harris), others design and build aircraft (like General Atomics), and others provide vital components (like GE Aerospace).

Until Boeing won the F-47 contract, it was unclear if its fighter jet production would be just a few Eagles by the end of the decade. Boeing may be on a winning streak. Lockheed Martin has reportedly been eliminated from the Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation fighter program, leaving only Boeing and Northrop Grumman contending for it. Time will tell if the Navy gets the funding it needs and if Boeing will win both of the US DoD’s sixth-generation contracts or not.