Its development began without an explicit need for it, although this design was quickly purchased by the military for its many potential benefits.

[2] In 1978, J47s were formally withdrawn from active military duty when the Air National Guard retired the jet-boosted KC-97Js.

[3] Despite this, these engines are still extensively utilized in F-86 Sabre jets owned by civilians, making them a common sight at air shows.

The turbojet featured a revolutionary anti-icing system where hollow frame struts allowed heated airflow to pass through from the compressor, allowing fighter jets equipped with the engine to function at high altitudes, and in cold conditions such as the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire's White Mountains, where the engine was first tested.

The engine featured an electronically controlled afterburner, a system that dumped additional fuel into the combustor pipe 'behind' the engine, reheating the exhaust and producing significantly more thrust, although with greatly reduced efficiency and high fuel burn rates.