In a move underlining ongoing tension between saving money and military readiness, the House Armed Services Committee has once again blocked the US Air Force’s attempt to retire 32 non-combat-worthy F-22 Raptors. A decision was taken as part of discussions on the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, wherein the Air Force had proposed divesting some 250 older aircraft.
Lawmakers, however, appear wholly convinced such fifth-generation fighters have a place in future conflicts, despite the insistence of the Air Force that upgrading those mostly training-used Block 20 F-22s for combat would be cost-prohibitive. This is not the first time a proposal to that effect has been stymied: A similar effort was blocked in the FY23 NDAA.
It has authorized the retirement of 56 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, which provide close air support, and 65 F-15C/D Eagles fighters, but barred the retirement of the remaining 26 F-15E Strike Eagles. The lawmakers have placed a condition that these jets should remain in service until a study about fighters needed to meet the geographical combatant commanders’ requirements is provided in detail to them.
The NDAA also sets aside funding for more F-15EXs, with $271 million to purchase two dozen more of the upgraded fighters in 2026 – in a move seen as a lifeline for Boeing’s St Louis production line.
But the NDAA goes beyond the debates over fighter jets. It has broader implications for the fleet of the Air Force: damage to a single B-2 Spirit Bomber means that it cannot be economically repaired, and thus this legislation allows retirement of the aircraft, reducing the B-2 fleet to a mere 19 aircraft. It also dictates a minimum number of fighters in inventory for the Air Force at 1,112 temporary reduction from the previous requirement of 1,145.
Congress is also interested in the Air Force’s plans for integrating into its fleet what is referred to as drone wingmen or collaborative combat aircraft. They asked for detailed reports on how the Air Force and Navy planned for the affordable acquisition of the CCAs and integration into tactical fighter forces.
NDAA also requires the Air Force, April 1, to submit a report outlining its desired mix for the long-term structure of the tactical fighter force regarding recapitalization, training, and sustainment. The plan shall outline the mix of fighters needed to meet global challenges and how existing piloted fighter capacity will be supplemented or replaced with CCAs.
Strike the balance between budget and operational readiness, the modernization of the Air Force fleet has remained a talking point for lawmakers. Eventually, these discussions will determine what the future capabilities and readiness for emerging threats are for the U.S. Air Force.