U.S. Air Force Reveals Vision for 2035 Fighter Jet Plans

Reference News Network reported on October 24 According to the U.S. Defense News Weekly website on October 21, a new version of the military force structure report submitted by the U.S. Air Force to Congress on the 16th shows that by 2035, the U.S. Air Force will need 1,509 combat-ready fighter jets, which are aircraft assigned to operational units.

According to the U.S. Space Force Magazine, David Tabor, an official responsible for planning and programs in the Air Force, introduced this report at a Pentagon press roundtable on the 20th.

Based on data cited by Tabor, by 2035, F-35 aircraft will account for about 40% of the total fleet, up from the current approximately 30%; F-22 aircraft and its replacement model, the F-47, will account for about 20%. Tabor stated that the Air Force plans to replace the current F-22s with a roughly equivalent number of F-47s.

The remaining 40% will be roughly evenly divided between F-15 and F-16 aircraft. The above statistics do not include the A-10 attack aircraft, which is not included in the U.S. Air Force's 2035 plan.

Tabor indicated that this data is based on equipment requirements proposed by commanders of various combatant commands for missions under moderate risk conditions. The U.S. military categorizes risk into four levels: low, medium, higher, and high. Under the moderate risk setting, forces are likely to achieve operational objectives, but if engaged in prolonged operations, they will face pressure.

Tabor stated that the relevant analysis was initiated before the outbreak of war with Iran this year and was not driven by the war. He said that due to changes in the international situation, new operational demands, and the emergence of new technologies, the number of 1,509 aircraft is likely to change.

Tabor noted that whether this goal can be achieved depends on whether Congress allocates funding for aircraft procurement and whether Lockheed Martin and Boeing can complete production on time. The Space Force Magazine quoted him as saying to reporters that defense contractors "have assured us they can do it, and we believe they can do it."

Reports indicate that some Air Force officers have long stated that the Air Force needs to procure 72 aircraft each year. The budget request for fiscal year 2027 plans to procure 38 F-35s and 24 F-15EXs, totaling 62 aircraft. Tabor stated that future procurement numbers could gradually increase.

The budget for fiscal year 2027 allocates $2.34 billion for the procurement of 14 of the 38 F-35s, with this funding coming from a budget reconciliation bill, which only requires a simple majority in the Senate to pass. Tabor stated that if the bill fails to pass, the Air Force will either reallocate funds from other projects or delay this procurement to fiscal year 2028.

The planned number of 1,509 aircraft does not include collaborative combat aircraft, which are unmanned drones that assist manned fighter jets in executing missions. The U.S. Air Force plans to field 500 collaborative combat aircraft by 2032. Tabor stated that currently, drones have not affected the total demand for fighter jets, but in future reports, drones may reduce the demand scale for manned fighter jets. (Translated by Guo Jun)