F-35A stealth fighters are seen practicing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, April 28, 2021.
F-16s and F-35s
The F-35A fleet has now surpassed the F-15 and A-10 to become the second-largest fleet in the U.S. Air Force, after the F-16s.
According to Air Force Magazine, the U.S. Air Force now has 283 F-35As, 281 A-10s, 234 F-15C/Ds and 218 F-15Es. The F-35 has reached a new quantitative milestone, Charles Q. Brown Jr. told the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee on July 7.
The U.S. Air Force intends to procure 1,763 F-35s, which are being added to bases in the continental United States and Alaska. Brown said the U.S. Air Force is still studying tactical aircraft requirements to determine the appropriate mix of Gen 5 and conventional fighters. He noted that the Air Force’s intent is to review the current fleet of seven fighters to understand what combination will be most mission-capable as it moves into the future. Brown emphasized that the U.S. Air Force has to have aircraft that can match high and low.
F-16s and F-35s
The F-35 is the so-called “high-end” fighter, Brown said, adding that in the face of future threats, a series of options should be examined to pick the right combination. However, he pointed out that the answer will not be just one, but a series of answers, and the U.S. Air Force should make sure it has done a thorough analysis when looking at the threat.
Recent Comments