US Air Force targets 1,509 combat aircraft by 2035

The United States Air Force projects a combat fleet of 1,509 fighter aircraft by 2035, aiming for stealth technology to comprise approximately 60% of its inventory. According to Lieutenant General David Tabor, the projected fleet will rely heavily on the F-35A Lightning II, which is expected to represent 40% of the total, while the F-22 Raptor and future F-47 models will account for another 20%. The remaining 40% will be split between F-15 and F-16 fighters.

Despite these expansion goals, industrial capacity remains a significant concern. General Tabor noted that funded orders do not always translate to delivered aircraft, and production lines at companies like Lockheed Martin are heavily committed to international customers. This poses a challenge to maintaining a strategic balance in the Pacific, especially as China’s aerospace sector expands rapidly. Estimates suggest the People’s Liberation Army may already operate between 1,400 and 1,700 modern combat aircraft.