US Air Force Seeks 1,509 Fighter Jets by 2035

The United States Air Force has informed Congress that it requires a fleet of 1,509 combat-coded fighter jets by 2035 to meet a medium-risk standard. This requirement, detailed in a report submitted to Congress, sees the F-35 comprising 40% of the fleet, while F-22s and their F-47 replacements account for 20%, with F-15s and F-16s splitting the remainder. A low-risk estimate has risen to 1,723 aircraft, up from 1,558 the previous year.

Lt. Gen. David Tabor confirmed the service is considering the production of new-build F-16 aircraft, though he noted the decision is not urgent. To supplement crewed aircraft, the Air Force plans to field at least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones by 2032. Recent procurement includes a $2.38 billion contract with Boeing for 22 F-15EX Eagle II aircraft to replace aging F-15C and F-15D models.

Achieving these goals depends on congressional funding and production capacity from Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The fiscal 2027 request seeks 62 fighters, including 38 F-35s and 24 F-15EXs. Separately, the Department of Defense is coordinating with United States Central Command to assess the costs of rebuilding military bases in the Middle East as part of a broader global force posture review.