The US Air Force is to acquire 72 fighter jets for the first time in recent history - the service has requested funds to order 48 F-35s and 24 upgraded F-15EXs

The US Air Force has requested funds from Congress to purchase 72 fighter jets. This is the first time in modern history, but not the last.

Here's What We Know

Senior US Air Force officials have been saying for several years that they need to order at least 72 new fighter jets every year to modernise the fleet and reduce the average age. Otherwise, the service simply won't have a full replacement for the F-15C Eagles that need to be retired.

The target has long been achievable, but the US Air Force has been ordering fewer fighters than it needs. And now the FY2024 budget proposal (FY) requests the purchase of 48 F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighters and 24 F-15EX Eagle II upgrades.

By comparison, in FY2023, the US Congress approved funding for the purchase of 43 F-35As and 24 F-15EXs. In other words, the US Air Force was able to order a total of 67 fighter jets.

The service wants to continuously request funding for 72 fighter jets. However, this will primarily depend on the production capabilities of Lockheed Martin, which produces the F-35A Lightning II.

The US Air Force recently announced that the total order for the F-15EX Eagle II has been increased from 80 to 104 aircraft. The service is ordering the fighters in four batches of 24 each. The latest request is scheduled for FY2025. The planes will also receive conformal fuel tanks. As for the F-35 Lightning II, the U.S. Air Force wants to buy 48 new fifth-generation fighters each year until at least FY2028.

Source: Defence News