H.R. 1851 — Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025

This section extends through October 1, 2030 (from October 1, 2026), and increases minimum fighter aircraft inventory requirements for the Air Force and its reserve components by requiring (1) a total aircraft inventory of at least 1,900 (from 1,800) and (2) a primary mission aircraft inventory (PMI, i.e., combat-coded aircraft assigned to operational units) of at least 1,200 (from 1,145). It further authorizes the Secretary of Defense to temporarily reduce the total inventory requirement (but not below 1,800 aircraft, and for no more than two years) to enable recapitalization of Air Force units transitioning to new combat-coded fighter aircraft, subject to prior notification to the congressional defense committees identifying affected units (which may be included in required quarterly reports).

This section requires the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 90 days after enactment of the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025 and at the end of each fiscal-year quarter thereafter through September 30, 2030, a report on the status of the total aircraft inventory requirement for fighter aircraft established by subsection (i). Each report includes (1) the number of new advanced capability, fifth-generation, and next-generation air dominance fighter aircraft received during the quarter, with mission design series prefixes and vendors; (2) such new aircraft assigned to Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard units; (3) distribution ratios and percentages of new aircraft assigned to each component, disaggregated by mission design series; (4) legacy fighter aircraft retired or divested by each component, disaggregated by unit; (5) fighter aircraft units scheduled for recapitalization, including any temporary reductions in the subsection (i) inventory level; and (6) notable trends, issues, challenges, delays, or other factors affecting receipt and assignment. Reports must be unclassified unless classified annexes are required, and failure to submit by the deadline prohibits obligation or expenditure of funds for the Secretary's travel until submission.

This section establishes requirements for prioritizing the recapitalization of service-retained Air Force fighter squadrons. For every four new advanced capability fighter aircraft, fifth-generation fighter aircraft (e.g., F-35), or next-generation air dominance fighter aircraft accepted by the Air Force, at least three must be assigned and delivered to a fighter squadron that exists as of enactment and is service-retained. (2) For each such new aircraft assigned, the Secretary of the Air Force may retire one legacy capability fighter aircraft from that squadron on a one-for-one basis.

This section requires the Secretary of the Air Force, from December 23, 2024, through October 1, 2030, to (1) maintain not less than 25 fighter aircraft squadrons of the Air National Guard (i.e., the 25 squadrons in existence as of December 23, 2024); and (2) refrain from retiring, reducing funding for, or placing in excess-to-requirements ("XJ") status any legacy capability fighter aircraft or fifth-generation fighter aircraft assigned to those squadrons. Exceptions allow (1) case-by-case exclusions for individual aircraft no longer mission capable and uneconomical to repair due to accidents, mishaps, or material degradation; and (2) one-for-one retirement of a legacy capability fighter aircraft from a squadron upon delivery of a new advanced capability or fifth-generation fighter aircraft to that squadron. (Thus, the provision preserves Air National Guard fighter capacity—critical for homeland defense and surge support to active-duty forces—while permitting targeted recapitalization.)

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Director of the Air National Guard, to annually develop a plan to recapitalize the Air National Guard's fighter fleet, consisting of 25 squadrons as of enactment. The plan must (1) recapitalize those squadrons at the same rate and with the same mix of legacy and advanced capability fighter aircraft as active Air Force squadrons; (2) provide a timetable through October 1, 2030, disaggregated by squadron and fiscal year, that identifies required funding; (3) assess budgetary effects on active components if implemented; (4) assess effects on operational and personnel readiness across active and reserve components, including fulfillment of combatant commanders' requirements; and (5) examine feasibility of acquiring F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the Air National Guard. Not later than July 1 each year through July 1, 2030, the Secretary must submit the plan to the congressional defense committees in unclassified form, with a possible classified annex.

This section establishes definitions in new subsection (r) of 10 USC 9062 for the following terms relating to fighter aircraft: (1) advanced capability fighter aircraft (i.e., new production variants of specified airframes such as F-16 Block 70/72 and subsequent blocks or F-15EX and subsequent variants, excluding modified legacy aircraft); (2) fifth-generation fighter aircraft (i.e., F-22 or F-35 aircraft); (3) fighter aircraft (i.e., F- or A-designated aircraft with one or two crew that perform specified combat or collaborative missions); (4) legacy capability fighter aircraft (i.e., pre-fifth-generation aircraft such as F-16, F-15C/D/E, or A-10C); (5) next-generation air dominance fighter aircraft (i.e., sixth-generation crewed fighters capable of collaborative operations with semi-autonomous uncrewed aircraft); and (6) service retained (i.e., under control of Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, or Air National Guard and not assigned to a combatant command or joint task force).