The Recapitalization of the Air Force, Reserve and National Guard

Dear Chairman Reed, Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Wicker, and Ranking Member Smith:

The demands of the nation’s combatant commanders for Air Force aircraft currently exceed the availability of those aircraft. It is therefore imperative to solve the capability crisis facing the Air Force by reducing and eventually reversing the decline in the Air Force’s available combat aircraft inventory. Maximizing the procurement of F-35’s and F-15EX aircraft is key to accomplishing this objective. Therefore, regarding the procurement of fighter aircraft, the Air and Space Forces Association (“AFA”) strongly supports the Senate Armed Services Committee’s (“SASC”) version of the FY’2025 National Defense Authorization Act (“FY’25 NDAA”). Specifically, the procurement of at least 42 F-35As – as called for in the President’s Budget Request – and increasing the number of F-15EXs to be acquired from 18 to 24.

Under current Air Force plans, the service intends to retire over 600 tactical aircraft over the next five years, while acquiring approximately 246. That is a reduction in the size of the force by almost 350 aircraft. Simultaneously, it has been reported that President Xi of China has directed his military to be able to conduct a successful invasion of Taiwan by 2027. A threat CIA Director Williams Burns has publicly warned should not be underestimated.

Accordingly, though development delays continue, it is in the United States’s best interest to acquire as many aircraft as possible to deter this strategic threat. It should be noted aircraft purchased in the FY’25 NDAA will be built in two years’ time. Therefore, a reduction in the number of aircraft purchased will only increase the size of the number of aircraft being retired versus purchased just as the Chinese continue with their robust aircraft production. In fact, maximizing the number of F-35s acquired in the FY’25 NDAA is the most effective mechanism to achieve adding the greatest amount of airpower capabilities in the shortest period of time.

In addition, AFA resolutely supports the Section 134 of the SASC version of the bill. This provision requires the Secretary of the Air Force to develop a plan for modernizing all 25 fighter aircraft squadrons in the Air National Guard and identify the resources required to execute this plan. Most importantly, the legislative language requires the plan to have the “same combination of legacy capability fighter aircraft and advanced capability fighter aircraft found in fighter squadrons of the active force.”

In conclusion, AFA respectfully requests the defense armed services committees maximize the number of F-35As acquired to at least 42 and increase the number of F-15EXs from 18 to 24. Additionally, the AFA strongly supports the inclusion of Section 134 of the Senate version of the bill in the final legislation.

Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Sincerely,