Overview
- The U.S. Air Force has formally set a target of 1,509 combat‑coded fighters by 2035 as its updated long‑term force‑structure goal.
- Planned fleet mix would make F‑35s roughly 40 percent of the force, reserve about 20 percent for F‑22/F‑47 aircraft, and split the remaining 40 percent between F‑15 variants and F‑16s.
- The service says the plan requires Congress to provide funding and notes the FY2027 buy proposal falls short of the service’s historical 72‑per‑year pace, with $2.34 billion in reconciliation money sought to pay for 14 additional F‑35s.
- Meeting the goal also hinges on industry capacity and procurement stability, with Lockheed Martin and Boeing expected to scale production, multiyear buys under consideration, and the F‑47 (NGAD follow‑on) slated for a first flight in 2028.
- Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft are counted outside the 1,509 total, the Air Force plans to field 500 CCAs by 2032, and the service cautions that aging F‑15 and F‑16 fleets and evolving drone capabilities could change crewed fighter needs and basing and maintenance demands.