Southern Nevada is in line for one of the biggest military construction projects in its history. The U.S. Air Force has put out a notice seeking builders for a roughly $1.057 billion campus at Nellis Air Force Base to test and maintain the F-47, the next-generation fighter jet being built by Boeing.
What the Air Force wants to build
The notice, posted Oct. 22 and 23, asks for up to four firms to design and build the campus on the east side of the base, northeast of Las Vegas. The first phase, targeted for completion around March 2031, includes:
- An operations and maintenance hangar of about 117,000 square feet
- A reprogramming laboratory for the jet’s systems of about 39,000 square feet
- A simulator facility of about 41,000 square feet
- A large aircraft apron with sunshades
A second phase through 2032 could add hangars for fuel system work and stealth-coating maintenance, weapons-load and maintenance training buildings, a consolidated maintenance facility and a dining facility.
Timeline
The Air Force is aiming to pick builders by February 2027. Design and preconstruction would run about nine months, followed by about 40 months of construction. The Air Force’s 2027 budget request also confirmed that operational testing of the F-47 will take place at Nellis.
About the F-47
Boeing was chosen in March 2025 to build the F-47, which is expected to replace the F-22 Raptor in the 2030s. Air Force leaders have said the first aircraft should fly in 2028.
What it means for Las Vegas
Nellis is already home to the Air Force’s top fighter training and testing programs. A project of this size means years of construction work on the base and more test pilots, engineers and maintainers coming to the valley. Officials have not released local job estimates yet, and where operational F-47 squadrons will be based is a separate decision.