Photo: Stone RF
For the first time in the history of the branch, the United States Air Force's fleet of planes could fall below 5,000 aircraft as they retire older aircraft. Thanks to budget cuts, they can't replace those planes with newer models fast enough. Air Force Lt. Gen.
Richard Moore told the Air and Space Forces Association, "We are having to slow down modernization. You can see a reduction in fiscal year 2025 from last year." He says in order to maintain legacy force structure and modernize the fleet, they have to hollow out the force.
Moore says it's a balancing game between the top line of their budget and the buying power of that money.
When it comes to the retirement of older planes, Moore says there isn't really a better option. He says the planes are lacking the latest weapon systems and technology, and it's too expensive to install them.
He says they can't even be used as training planes because the cost to maintain them and keep them airworthy is far too high.