US Air Force says it needs 1,500 more fighters to meet future threats 

The US Air Force says it needs to grow its fighter fleet by another 1,500-plus aircraft over the next decade to meet national defense requirements, according to a new report submitted to Congress.

The unclassified, 10-year plan calls for a total of 1,558 combat-ready fighters, up from the current projection of 1,271 aircraft in fiscal year 2026. The increase would require faster production of F-15EX and F-35A jets and continued modernization of existing aircraft. 

The report, obtained by multiple defense news outlets and first reported by Inside Defense, was signed by Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. Ordered by Congress as part of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, it outlines how the Air Force plans to balance modernization with affordability as it prepares for threats from “near-peer” competitors. 

“The Department of the Air Force is focused on modernizing current fifth-generation and legacy fighter aircraft fleets, expanding warfighting capabilities, and acquiring new advanced fighter capability,” the document states, according to media reports. 

To reach the goal, the service would need to boost procurement of both Boeing F-15EX Eagle II and Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters. The report says Boeing could reach a maximum production rate of 24 F-15EXs per year by 2027 and up to 36 annually with new funding for facilities. The Air Force plans to buy 129 F-15EXs in total, with 126 deliveries expected by 2030. 

Boeing said the F-15 line will remain open well into the next decade, with both domestic and international orders supporting production. “We are increasing production to meet anticipated demand,” said Mark Sears, Boeing’s vice president for fighters. 

The report describes the F-35A as “the foundation of the Air Force fighter force structure” and says the service aims to increase procurement once current upgrade delays are resolved. Lockheed Martin says it can build up to 165 total F-35s a year across all variants by 2030, with 100 of those potentially destined for the Air Force. 

Lockheed called the F-35 “the most advanced fighter capability and technology” available to maintain air superiority. The company said it is expanding capacity through a new partnership with Germany’s Rheinmetall to produce center fuselages. 

The report also references the F-47, a next-generation aircraft being developed under the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance program. Production lines for the jet are expected to open soon, though no unclassified figures were provided. The F-47 will be paired with autonomous drone wingmen under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. 

The plan also depends on retiring aging aircraft to free up funding. The Air Force intends to retire all remaining A-10s by 2026 and begin phasing out some older F-22 fighters. The Air National Guard will retain 24 fighter squadrons beyond 2045, transitioning to newer F-15EXs, F-16s, and F-35s. 

The service also reports a $400 million annual shortfall in maintenance and sustainment funding, which it says must be corrected to maintain readiness. It plans to increase flight hours for pilot training but warns that cost pressures will require trade-offs elsewhere in the budget. 

Even with the added investment, the Air Force warns that meeting its target of 1,558 fighters by 2035 will depend on consistent funding and production schedules. The report says the expanded fleet is essential to meet global obligations and maintain deterrence as advanced threats emerge. The post US Air Force says it needs 1,500 more fighters to meet future threats  appeared first on AeroTime.

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