Congress may alter Air Force fighter structure as service fails to reach 1,145 aircraft minimum

A Congressional Research Service review found that the United States Air Force had 1,098 primary-mission fighter aircraft in May 2026, 47 below the statutory minimum of 1,145. The service nonetheless proposes a larger 1,558-aircraft combat-coded objective for 2035 and wants Congress to consider counting backup and attrition aircraft differently. Lawmakers must weigh purchases, retirements, readiness and pilot shortages while assessing that plan. The report frames options for congressional oversight and legislation; it does not itself order a new force structure or guarantee the funding required to reach the higher target.