US Air National Guard warns fighter shortage eroding combat readiness

The United States Air National Guard has warned that a growing shortage of fighter aircraft is undermining its combat capabilities, as ageing jets and years of underinvestment strain operational readiness.

In a joint letter sent to Congress earlier this month, adjutants general from more than 20 states called for a significant increase in fighter procurement, urging multi-year funding to acquire between 72 and 100 new aircraft annually, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Current plans fall well short of that target, with around 48 to 64 fighters procured each year.

For the 2026 fiscal year, the F-35A Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II are set to make up the bulk of acquisitions, with 24 units of each scheduled. However, officials say this pace is insufficient to reverse long-term declines in fleet size and readiness.

“The United States Air Force is the oldest, the smallest, and the least ready in its 78-year history,” the letter stated, warning that without sustained investment, the situation will deteriorate further.

Brigadier General Shannon Smith said the force was being overstretched by ongoing operational demands. He noted that ageing aircraft were becoming increasingly costly to maintain, adding that in the coming years many could struggle to remain operational, “let alone be relevant”.

A key concern is the ageing fleet of F-15C/D Eagle jets, some of which date back to the Cold War. While the newer F-35A offers advanced stealth capabilities, officials argue it lacks the range, speed and payload capacity needed to fully replace older air superiority fighters in certain roles.

The F-15EX, a modernised version of the long-serving Eagle, has been procured in part to fill that gap. It features updated avionics, including advanced radar systems, and is currently the only heavyweight fighter still in production in the Western world.

Despite this, procurement numbers for both aircraft have declined over time. Earlier plans to acquire more than 100 F-35s annually have been scaled back significantly, largely due to rising development and maintenance costs.

The Air National Guard has repeatedly called for increased investment in the F-15EX programme in particular. Advocates argue it offers a more cost-effective way to maintain capacity while newer technologies continue to develop.

By Aghakazim Guliyev