Sponsors (19)
The bill accelerates and prioritizes fighter modernization—improving frontline readiness and congressional visibility—at the cost of higher taxpayer spending, possible short‑term capability gaps, reduced procurement oversight in some areas, and administrative burdens.
Active-duty Air Force and Air National Guard squadrons will receive prioritized deliveries of advanced fighters so frontline units are modernized faster, improving unit readiness and capability.
Long-term statutory force-size goals are increased (from 1,800 to 1,900 aircraft), strengthening planned future force capacity once fielded.
Congress, planners, and taxpayers gain more regular, detailed visibility into fighter inventory, deliveries, retirements, and squadron-level timetables—helping detect production or delivery issues earlier and enabling better oversight of recapitalization.
Active-duty inventory is allowed to temporarily drop (to as low as 1,800 aircraft for up to two years) and some units may see accelerated retirements, creating near‑term capability gaps and reduced operational flexibility for missions and deterrence.
Taxpayers face higher near‑ and long‑term costs due to higher statutory fleet targets, prioritized production of modern variants, preserving some legacy units through 2030, and expanded recapitalization across Guard and active components.
The bill concentrates discretion and reduces some acquisition and oversight safeguards (temporary waiver authority, exemptions from 10 U.S.C. §2244a), risking less congressional control, reduced competition, and lower procurement transparency.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Raises statutory Air Force fighter minimums, delays baseline to 2030, allows limited recapitalization waivers, mandates quarterly reports, prioritizes new fighters to existing squadrons, and protects 25 ANG squadrons.
Introduced March 5, 2025 by Michael Dean Crapo · Last progress March 5, 2025
Directs the Air Force to keep a larger fighter inventory target, delays the statutory baseline date to 2030, and creates limited, temporary exceptions to let units transition to new fighters without violating the minimum inventory rule. It requires frequent public reporting on fighter deliveries and retirements, forces most new advanced fighters to be assigned to existing squadrons, and protects 25 Air National Guard fighter squadrons from retirements or reductions through 2024–2030 while requiring annual recapitalization plans for those squadrons.