Recapitalization and Enhancing the Readiness of the US Air Force

Dear Chairman Wicker and Senator Reed:

The Department of Defense’s 2025 Annual Report to Congress: China’s Military and Security Development Involving the People’s Republic of China states, “China’s top military strategy focuses squarely on overcoming the United States through a whole-of-nation mobilization effort that Beijing terms ‘national total war.” Toward that objective, China is estimated to be producing 120 J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighters a year, with a goal to acquire 1,000 by 2030. In addition, the Department’s report also states: “China has the world’s leading hypersonic missile arsenal and continued to advance the development of conventional and nuclear-armed hypersonic missile technologies.”

For the United States to keep pace with this growing threat, Congress must renew its commitment to recapitalizing and enhancing the readiness of our Air Force. Accordingly, the Air & Space Forces Association’s (AFA) Mitchell Institute makes the following recapitalization and enhancing readiness recommendations, which are based upon numerous studies over the past several years.  

Recapitalization

• F-35A – Direct the Department of the Air Force to enter a significant multi-year contract beginning in Fiscal Year 2027 for the procurement of the F-35A at the maximum production rate possible, but not less than 60 aircraft per year.  

• E-7 – Direct the resumption of the previous plan to acquire 26 E-7 aircraft. 

• EA-37B – Increase the FY’27 procurement of the EA-37B Compass Call to eight aircraft.  

• F-15EX – Increase procurement of the F-15EX in FY’27 to 30 aircraft.  

• F-47 – Accelerate the development and production of the F-47 to achieve a total force size of 240 combat-capable aircraft in the shortest length of time possible.  

• B-21 – Increase production capabilities to ensure 225 B-21s are built by 2040.  

• Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) – Accelerate the development of the CCA and maximize funding as the aircraft’s capabilities are proven.    

• HH-60W and MH-139 – Ensure the timely acquisition of the HH-60W and MH-139 to fully meet Air Force requirements.  

Enhancing Readiness 

As a general principle, due to the age and maintenance requirements of our existing aircraft, the Congress must allocate sufficient resources to sustain our existing fleet until they are replaced.   Other vital areas include:  

• Flight Hours – Increase funding so fighter pilots fly at least three sorties a week and 200 hours a year; and bomber/support aircrews fly at least four hours per week.

• Weapon Systems Sustainment (WSS) – Fully fund WSS to 100 percent of the Air Force’s requirement.  

Accordingly, AFA respectfully recommends Congress resolutely renew its commitment to the recapitalization and enhancement of the readiness of our Air Force by enacting the measures discussed above.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter. 

Yours truly,