A classified Pentagon report has sounded an alarm, revealing that the United States Air Force (USAF) currently lacks a sufficient number of fighter jets to effectively wage future conflicts. The report, titled ‘Long-Term USAF Fighter Force Structure,’ highlights a critical need for 1,558 combat-ready aircraft, a substantial increase of nearly 300 from its current operational fleet. This shortfall, insiders suggest, is a stark wake-up call for defense strategists, underscoring the urgent necessity for the USAF to expand its capabilities amidst a global landscape of escalating geopolitical tensions. The current fleet, numbering around 1,271 combat-coded fighters, including aging A-10 Thunderbolt IIs slated for retirement, falls significantly below the threshold deemed necessary for safe and effective operations. This deficiency leaves the U.S. vulnerable, potentially compromising air superiority in multi-front engagements across the Pacific and Eastern Europe. The report categorizes anything below 1,367 fighters as posing a ‘medium risk,’ where mission success is uncertain, and numbers below that enter ‘high-risk’ territory, making mission failure a distinct possibility. Modernization efforts, including the integration of F-35A Lightning IIs, F-15EX Eagle IIs, and the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, are experiencing delays due to complexities in production and software upgrades, particularly the F-35’s Block 4 enhancement. Simultaneously, maintaining legacy aircraft like the F-15C/Ds and soon-to-be-retired A-10s presents significant financial burdens due to scarce parts and maintenance challenges. The USAF is exploring artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, such as collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) drones, to augment its fleet and ease pilot strain. However, the viability of these systems in critical combat roles remains uncertain, leaving the target of 1,558 fighters as a crucial survival threshold. Sustained funding, industrial capacity expansion, and technological advancements are deemed essential for the Air Force to maintain its global edge.
