To protect F-47 plans from hackers, Boeing should lean on CMMC, zero trust: DoD official

Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

By Carley Welch • May 12, 2025

In order to keep the plans for the US Air Force’s highly classified F-47 fighter secure from hackers, prime contractor Boeing will have to rely on the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity measures such as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and zero trust, Katie Arrington told Breaking Defense.

Arrington, who is performing the duties of the CIO until the newly named nominee Kristen Davies potentially takes over, pending confirmation, said adherence to those security principles is critical, especially with the lessons fresh in the mind from purported Chinese intrusions that pilfered data on the Lockheed Martin-made fifth-generation F-35 and F-22, as well as Boeing aircraft. China later produced its own fifth-gen fighter, the J-20, which shared some suspicious similarities to the American airframes.