At a Historic Low, Air Force Fleet Size Will Keep Shrinking, Top Planner Says

[rangerrebew]

At a Historic Low, Air Force Fleet Size Will Keep Shrinking, Top Planner Says
April 9, 2024 | By Chris Gordon

The Air Force fleet will keep shrinking, the service’s senior planner said April 9. In its fiscal 2025 budget, the Air Force plans to reduce its fleet below 5,000 aircraft for the first time in its history as an independent service, divesting 250 aircraft and buying just 91. But that will not be the end of the decline, said Lt. Gen. Richard G. Moore Jr., deputy chief of staff for plans and programs.

“I see that continuing,” Moore said at an AFA Warfighters in Action event.


Moore said the service had to make tough choices due to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which capped spending at a one percent rise in fiscal 2025 before inflation.

“This is the result of a reduced top line and also reduced buying power, and so we have to buy fewer” aircraft, Moore said. “We had to balance. Balance is something that’s a requirement.”

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-fleet-size-shrinking-top-planner/

[rangerrebew]

This is a good time for our military scale back.  We don't have the pax Romana but we do have the pax China, Russia, North Korea, and Middle east.

[Timber Rattler]

$90 to $110 million per aircraft is ridiculous too!

Newest F-35, F-15EX contracts are set. Here’s how much they cost. (EXCLUSIVE)

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10/newest-f-35-f-15ex-contracts-are-set-but-how-much-do-they-cost-exclusive/#:~:text=Goemaere%20further%20stated%20that%20the,used%20by%20the%20Air%20Force.