In response to the shortcomings of the US Air Force's recently announced "4+1" fighter jet program for the 2020s, the Mitchell Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics released a report on October 25th titled "The Future Fighter Force the Nation Needs: Building a Bridge," proposing eight recommendations to the Air Force.

The four fighter jets planned to be retained by the US Air Force include the already deployed F-35, F-15EX, and newer batches of F-16, as well as the F-22 (later replaced by the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet), and the+1 being the A-10 attack aircraft. According to the plan, F-22 and A-10 will be gradually phased out by 2030, and all F-15C/D and some early batches of F-16 are scheduled to be retired before the 2026 fiscal year.

The F-35A is considered a cornerstone by the US Air Force, and it is expected to purchase an additional 220 aircraft before the 2026 fiscal year.

The F-15EX can launch hypersonic weapons similar to the AGM-183A, as well as air-to-air missiles with undisclosed details. The US Air Force plans to purchase 11 F-15EX aircraft in fiscal year 2022 and increase to 84 by fiscal year 2026. At this rate, the US Air Force will complete the procurement of 144 F-15EX aircraft by 2030.

The F-16 is the most active tactical aircraft in the US Air Force. Currently, the US Air Force plans to retire 124 early batches of F-16s before the 2026 fiscal year, further reducing the fleet size to 812. By 2030, the US Air Force will retain approximately 600 newer batches of F-16s.

The F-22 program will begin retirement in 2030, but the specific timing will depend on the progress of NGAD.

The specific service time of NGAD is still unclear, but the progress is considerable at present. The first NGAD prototype has made its maiden flight in September 2020.

The US Air Force believes that the A-10 attack aircraft has no survivability in future conflicts and plans to replace it with a new CAS (Close Air Support) concept.

The US Air Force's "4+1" fighter jet program for the 2020s will result in a fleet size that is too small and improperly configured to respond to adversary threats; The speed of purchasing F-35 fighter jets is not fast enough; There is a risk of retiring the F-22 before its replacement enters service; Spending scarce funds on non stealth and '; Becoming increasingly irrelevant; These funds should be used for the all-new F-15EX fighter jet; Not taking into account the combat losses of the past 20 years in the planning considerations.

（1） Develop a planning force that truly meets the needs of national defense strategy. To deter opponents while having sufficient reserves to deal with a possible second conflict.

（2） Utilize the function of F-16 fighter jets. The F-16 can provide multiple capabilities in the short term, gradually retiring the F-15C/D, A-10C, and F-15E, and the saved funds will be used to purchase F-35 fighter jets and NGAD.

（3） Abandon investment in F-15EX. And use the funds to launch a "new stealth universal fighter design" (and MR-X) as a multifunctional fighter to supplement NGAD. MR-X has low cost and is related to future threats, while F-15EX, due to its lack of stealth, does not have the value of an out of defense weapon.

（4） Increase the production of F-35. To fill the gap in the retirement of F-15C/D, A-10C, and F-15E, and if the NGAD project is delayed, increasing the production of F-35 can also enhance combat effectiveness.

（5） Close the Joint Program Office (JPO) for the F-35. At present, JPO is managed by a committee composed of US and international F-35 users, which requires a long time to make decisions. At present, all military branches have F-35 integration offices, so the closure of JPO will result in a greater focus on the needs of each user, especially those of the Air Force.

（6） Retain the F-22 and modernize it. The report states that informing Congress that the F-22 will retire in 2030 means that the aircraft will not receive the necessary upgrades in the late 2020s. But the F-22 provides important capabilities for the European and Pacific theater of operations, so its combat capabilities should be maximized. The retirement time of the US Air Force F-22 will depend on the progress of NGAD, and there must be no gaps in air superiority missions.

（7） Accelerate and continue to work on the NGAD project. The report states that NGAD is; The Foundation of the Future Fighter Force ";, But it won't be put into use until the 2030s. The US Air Force must remain committed to completing this project.

（8） Abolish the "resale" portion of the Air Force budget. The 'transfer' portion appears to be part of the US Air Force budget, but is not under its control. Instead, it is immediately transferred to classified projects of the Department of Defense, primarily space programs, but leaves the impression on Congress that the US Air Force's budget is 20% higher than actual. Therefore, this illusion should be eliminated to better illustrate the problem of insufficient funding for the Air Force compared to other departments.

The report states that the Air Force is facing a critical transition period, slowing down the production speed of the F-35 and purchasing outdated F-15EX designs is not a reasonable means to develop the fighter forces needed by the country, and the Air Force's 4+1 program will only widen the gap in basic capabilities. The US Air Force currently needs to emphasize its plans for stealth aircraft; Quickly retire non stealth and expensive maintenance old aircraft; At least 200 new fighter jets need to be received every year.

Source: National Defense Technology News