New Bill Blocks US Air Force F-22 Retirements & Adds $271 Million To Buy 24 Boeing F-15EXs

The DoD recently released its Fiscal Year budget request. The Air Force is seeking permission to divest around 250 aircraft, which will shrink the Air Force fleet to below 5,000 aircraft. Notably, the Air Force is seeking to retire 32 non-combat-worthy F-22 Raptors. As these are America’s most advanced air superiority fighters and are only available in limited numbers, this was always a contentious move. However, to no one’s surprise, Yahoo! News is reporting Congress is moving to block the divestment with the House Armed Services Committee’s proposed FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).