USAF Targets Over 20% Combat Jet Fleet Growth In The Next Decade

A new, congressionally-mandated United States Air Force fighter aircraft plan, one which was first reported by Breaking Defense, calls for the dramatic expansion of the Air Force’s fleet to 1,558 combat-coded jets within a decade. This marks a shift of roughly 300 more over the estimated inventory of 1,271, which was reported for 2026. This unclassified report outlines higher procurement of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and Boeing F-15EX Eagle II jets, all while emphasizing the next-generation capabilities of future programs like the F-47.