In a rare and coordinated move, adjutants general from 22 U.S. states have jointly urged Congress to dramatically scale up fighter aircraft procurement, warning that the United States Air Force risks falling behind in combat readiness without immediate intervention.
In a formal letter, the group called for multi-year funding to support the acquisition of 72 to 100 new fighter jets annually, with a focus on accelerating modernization across the Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve components. The proposal centers on two key platforms: the F-35A Lightning II and the F-15EX Eagle II—aircraft seen as critical to maintaining U.S. air superiority in an increasingly contested global environment, Air and Space Forces reported.
United States Military Air Power Comparison: Aircraft Availability by Readiness Rate
| Readiness Rate | Army (Air) | Navy | Air Force (USAF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50.0% | 2,167 | 1,252 | 2,502 |
| 70.0% | 3,033 | 1,753 | 3,503 |
| 75.0% | 3,250 | 1,878 | 3,753 |
| 80.0% | 3,466 | 2,003 | 4,003 |
A Coordinated Warning from Across 22 States
The letter is notable not just for its content, but for its authorship. It marks the first time all adjutants general from states operating Air National Guard fighter units have collectively backed a unified procurement demand.
Their message is blunt: the Air Force is relying heavily on decades-old aircraft, and the pace of modernization is insufficient to address emerging threats or sustain operational tempo. The urgency has been underscored by ongoing operations, including Operation Epic Fury in Iran, which have exposed the strain placed on both aircraft and personnel: after all the United States Air Force (USAF)‘s A-10 Warhog was downed after its F-15 was shot down. USAF is also eyeing for affordable attack missiles.
The letter states:
The United States Air Force is the oldest, the smallest, and the least ready in its 78-year history….We must build a fighting force that will win.
The letter is backed by adjutants general from 22 states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Each state operates Air National Guard fighter units that would directly benefit from accelerated procurement.
There is a Procurement Gap in Fighter Jets
At the heart of the appeal lies a stark mismatch between current procurement plans and what military leaders say is required.
The adjutants general propose:
- Minimum target: 72 fighters per year
- 48 × F-35A
- 24 × F-15EX
- Preferred target: 108 fighters per year
- 72 × F-35A
- 36 × F-15EX
By comparison, recent U.S. Air Force procurement levels fall well short:
- F-35A requests:
- 48 (FY2024)
- 42 (FY2025)
- 24 (FY2026)
- 38 (FY2027 proposal)
- F-15EX requests:
- 24 (FY2024)
- 18 (FY2025)
- 21 (FY2026)
- 24 (FY2027)
Notably, the last time the Air Force procured more than 72 fighters in a single year was in 1998, highlighting the scale of the proposed ramp-up.
US Forces Have 1970s-Era Aircraft Still in Service
The USAF, US Navy and US Army make it to the top of the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA) rankings. In terms of overall capability, the United States Air Force clearly leads with a TruVal Rating (TVR) of 242.9, placing it 1st out of 129 air arms globally. The United States Navy follows in second position, with a TVR of 142.4, reflecting strong but more specialized aviation capabilities tailored to carrier-based operations. Meanwhile, the United States Army aviation component ranks fourth, with a TVR of 112.6.
Despite this, the letter warns that procurement rates below 72 aircraft annually leave many squadrons operating aircraft dating back to the 1970s. In such a scenario, funding would increasingly be diverted toward keeping aging aircraft operational, rather than building a force capable of meeting modern combat requirements.
Here’s a breakdown of the aircraft type operated by the three divisions:
| Category | Army (Air) | Navy | Air Force (USAF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat/Attack | 0 units | 451 units | 2,045 units |
| General Support | 4,311 units | 1,058 units | 1,634 units |
| Pilot/Crew Training | 22 units | 995 units | 1,325 units |
| Future Procurement | 226 units | 544 units | 2,227 units |
Data: WDMMA
It Will Take a Decade or More to Fully Modernize USAF’s Fighter Jets
Even under the most optimistic scenario—where Congress approves funding and industry can meet production targets—modernizing the fleet will be a long-term effort. Brig. Gen. Shannon Smith, head of the Idaho Air National Guard and the state’s assistant adjutant general, estimates that replacing legacy platforms such as:
- A-10 Thunderbolt II
- F-15C
- F-16 Fighting Falcon
with newer aircraft like the F-35A and F-15EX could take 10 to 15 years. Complicating matters further, newer aircraft themselves will eventually require replacement, meaning the modernization cycle is effectively continuous.
Beyond procurement volumes, the letter strongly advocates for multiyear contracting, a mechanism designed to stabilise production and reduce costs. According to a 2025 report by the Congressional Research Service, such contracts could generate cost savings of between 5% and 15% for programs like the F-35.
The adjutants general argue that predictable funding would strengthen the defense industrial base, improve supply chain resilience, and enable long-term workforce planning. The letter also highlights a structural imbalance in modernization priorities between Active Duty and Reserve forces. Key data points include:
- The Air National Guard operates 13 of 33 total F-16 squadrons (39%)
- Among combat-coded units, that share rises to 45% (10 of 22 squadrons)
Of the Guard’s 24 fighter squadrons, only 11 have received—or are scheduled to receive—modernized aircraft. The remaining 13 squadrons lack clear recapitalization plans. The generals explicitly rejected the practice of transferring older aircraft from Active Duty units, stating that such moves do not constitute true modernization.
Bottom Line
Shannon Smith described the joint letter as an unprecedented show of unity among all 22 adjutants general, aimed at sending a clear and urgent message to Congress about the need for higher fighter procurement. He stressed that the proposed aircraft numbers apply to the entire Air Force structure—Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve, not just the National Guard.
Smith also highlighted that the group is actively lobbying lawmakers to build support, warning that ongoing operations like Operation Epic Fury are accelerating wear on both aircraft and personnel. He argued that the current operational tempo is exposing a long-standing modernization gap, with aging fleets being pushed hard to meet mission demands.
The question now shifts to Congress: whether it is willing to commit to the scale—and consistency—of funding required to reverse that trajectory.