S. 873 — Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025

This section increases the minimum total aircraft inventory of fighter aircraft required for the Air Force and its reserve components to 1,900 (from 1,800) and the primary mission aircraft inventory (PMI)—i.e., combat-coded fighters assigned to operational units—to 1,200 (from 1,145) through October 1, 2030 (from October 1, 2026). It further authorizes the Secretary of Defense to temporarily reduce the total inventory to enable recapitalization of units transitioning to new combat-coded fighters, provided the inventory does not fall below 1,800 aircraft, the reduction does not exceed two years, and the Secretary notifies the congressional defense committees of the affected units (which may be included in an existing quarterly report).

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) of 10 U.S.C. §9062 (which authorizes the Air Force's fighter aircraft strength). Each report must include (1) the number, mission design series prefix, and vendor of new advanced capability, fifth-generation, and next-generation air dominance fighter aircraft received during the quarter; (2) assignments of such aircraft to Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard units, including distribution ratios and percentages by component and mission design series; (3) legacy fighter aircraft retired or divested by component and unit; (4) units scheduled for recapitalization and any associated temporary reductions in minimum inventory levels; and (5) notable trends, issues, or challenges (e.g., delays). Reports must be unclassified unless classified annexes are required, and no funds may be obligated or expended for the Secretary's travel until any late report is submitted.

This section establishes requirements for recapitalizing existing service-retained Air Force fighter squadrons by directing the Secretary of the Air Force, for every four new advanced capability fighter aircraft, fifth-generation fighter aircraft, or next-generation air dominance fighter aircraft accepted by the Air Force, to assign and deliver at least three to a fighter squadron that exists as of the enactment date of the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025 and is service-retained. For each such new aircraft assigned under this requirement, the Secretary 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, to 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. The prohibition does not apply to individual aircraft determined on a case-by-case basis to be no longer mission capable and uneconomical to repair due to accidents, mishaps, or excessive degradation, nor does it prevent retiring one legacy capability fighter aircraft from a squadron for each new advanced capability or fifth-generation fighter aircraft delivered to that squadron (i.e., on a one-for-one basis). This section specifies that 10 USC 2244a (governing certain aircraft transfers) does not apply to these requirements.

This section requires the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Director of the Air National Guard, to annually develop a plan to recapitalize the fighter fleet of the Air National Guard, which consists of 25 fighter aircraft squadrons as of the date of enactment. The plan must (1) recapitalize those squadrons at a rate and mix of legacy and advanced capability fighter aircraft similar to active Air Force squadrons; (2) establish a timetable with required funding through FY2030, disaggregated by squadron and fiscal year; (3) assess budgetary effects on active components; (4) assess effects on operational and personnel readiness across active and reserve components, including 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 adds a new subsection (r) to 10 U.S.C. §9062 defining six terms for use in that section: (1) advanced capability fighter aircraft (i.e., new production variants of specified airframes, including F-16 Block 70/72 and subsequent blocks and 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 roles or operate collaboratively with semi-autonomous uncrewed aircraft); (4) legacy capability fighter aircraft (i.e., pre-fifth-generation fighters, including F-16, F-15C/D/E, and A-10C aircraft); (5) next-generation air dominance fighter aircraft (i.e., sixth-generation fighters capable of collaborative operations with semi-autonomous uncrewed aircraft, excluding uncrewed fighters); and (6) service retained (i.e., fighter aircraft units or aircraft controlled by Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, or Air National Guard, not assigned to a combatant command or joint task force).