Air Force Targets 1,509 Combat-Coded Fighters by 2035
The Air Force’s FY2026 force-structure assessment sets a 2035 target of 1,509 combat-coded fighters for a medium-risk posture, with 1,723 required for a lower-risk posture. FY2027 plans include 24 F-15EXs and 24 F-35s in the base budget, while 14 more F-35s depend on reconciliation funding—making congressional action, multiyear agreements, and production capacity central to the demand outlook.