The report also explained that after 2021, inventory will continue to decline until it hits the lowest point in 2031.
“The Air Force has insufficient resources to maintain the FY 2016 NDAA mandated number of fighter aircraft (1900) beyond the 2017-2021 FYDP. At the current resource levels, projected aircraft service life divestiture outpaces procurement. This will substantially drop the total number of combat coded fighters and fighter squadrons through the 2022-2026 FYDP. The inventory drop will continue until it reaches its lowest level in 2031,” the report stated.
Last year, Congress mandated that the department must maintain at least 1,900 fighter jets in their inventory after 2021, but the Pentagon claims that they do not have the budget to comply.
The Air Force currently has 1,971 attack aircraft in inventory, including A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F-22s and F-35As, Defense One reports.
