Frontline Fighter Force First Act

This bill pushes the Air Force to replace older fighter jets at active‑duty bases with newer, more capable aircraft. The Air Force must keep at least one advanced fighter model in production until all older jets in Air Combat Command fighter wings are swapped out, starting with squadrons that deploy the most often (at least 30% of the time). Congress points to falling readiness of some older jets—only about 55% of F‑15E aircraft are ready at any time—as a key reason to speed up these upgrades.

The bill also adds oversight. The Comptroller General will study challenges to buying these aircraft and recommend fixes within a year, then deliver a final report 30 days later. After that, the Air Force must report to Congress on progress within 180 days and every year after, including how it is following those recommendations and how replacement is going across wings.

• Who is affected: Active‑duty Air Force fighter wings that haven’t started or finished replacing older jets; units that deploy a lot are first in line.
• What changes: Continued buying of newer fighters—such as F‑16 Block 70/72, F‑15EX, and F‑35—to replace legacy jets, with authority to enter or modify contracts to get more aircraft as needed.
• When: GAO briefing within 1 year of the law, final report 30 days later, Air Force progress report 180 days after that and annually; aircraft buying continues until all legacy fighters in these wings are replaced.