US Air Force to retire all A-10s, cancel E-7 under 2026 spending plan
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
US Air Force seeks to retire all A-10 Warthogs by 2027
The USAF has sought to retire the Cold War-era attack jets for more than a decade, describing them as vulnerable to modern air defences. A devoted following among ground combat troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, aided by supporters in Congress, prevented the divestments. That finally changed in 2022, when lawmakers approved some A-10 retirements as part of the FY2023 US defence budget. The air force began retiring Warthogs in 2023, and has been gradually reducing its fleet since.
Those plans were detailed by senior Pentagon officials, who provided FlightGlobal an overview of the president’s fiscal year 2026 defence budget request on 26 June. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
The spending package includes a request for $57 million that would be used to retire all of the remaining 162 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, which are more commonly known by the moniker Warthog.
The USAF has sought to retire the Cold War-era attack jets for more than a decade, describing them as vulnerable to modern air defences. A devoted following among ground combat troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, aided by supporters in Congress, prevented the divestments.
That finally changed in 2022, when lawmakers approved some A-10 retirements as part of the FY2023 US defence budget. The air force began retiring Warthogs in 2023, and has been gradually reducing its fleet since.
Defence officials say they had previously planned to phase out the remaining A-10s by calendar year 2029, but now want to move that milestone forward.
The Trump Administration has moved aggressively to eliminate military platforms it deems obsolete or unsuited for its vision of modern combat against an advanced industrial adversary.
This includes plans to retire older Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopters and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1C uncrewed air vehicles from the US Army.
New development efforts seen as challenged or non-essential are also being axed, with funding going to priority projects instead.
A new sixth-generation fighter for the US Navy now appears to be in a holding pattern, while the Pentagon has terminated development of a new turboshaft engine for the Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter and is seeking to kill procurement of the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail for the USAF.
Congress will have to approve any spending plans, including changes to procurement and inventory.
Lawmakers often overrule the Pentagon on equipment decisions, as has so often been the case with previous efforts to retire the A-10.
Air Force budget focuses on stealth bomber, ICBMs and new fighter, limits new F-35s, retires A-10s
The Air Force requests Congress spend $209.6 billion — a 13.5% increase from fiscal 2025. The budget calls for $10.3 billion to fund the B-21 Raider, now undergoing final flight testing. The Air Force is requesting $4.2 billion to continue replacing the LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The service also plans to spend $39.8 billion on active-duty personnel, with an additional $2.75 billion for the Air Force Reserve and $5.6billion for Air National Guard. The proposal was rolled out Thursday during an appearance by top Air Force officials at a congressional hearing and later in the day during a briefing at the Pentagon. The defense budget includes $184.9 billion in the annual defense budget, supplemented with another $24. 9 billion in one-time spending included in legislation now before Congress. It includes $634 million for family housing — the largest expenditure slated for any branch of the armed services.
A new strategic stealth bomber, modernized ICBM missiles, and a sixth-generation fighter are President Donald Trump’s top priorities in the Air Force budget proposal for fiscal 2026 released by the Pentagon on Thursday.
The Air Force requests Congress spend $209.6 billion — a 13.5% increase from fiscal 2025, which ends Sept. 30. It includes $184.9 billion in the annual defense budget, supplemented with another $24.9 billion in one-time spending included in legislation now before Congress.
To fund its priorities, the Air Force will reduce its planned purchase of F-35A Lightning II fighters by 24 planes. The budget also calls for retiring all 162 of its remaining A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft by the end of 2027 instead of the previously planned phase-out over three years.
The budget was rolled out Thursday during an appearance by top Air Force officials at a congressional hearing and later in the day during a briefing at the Pentagon.
The budget calls for $10.3 billion to fund the B-21 Raider, now undergoing final flight testing, which will become the Air Force’s key manned bomber.
The budget also calls for modernization to keep B-52 Stratofortress bombers — originally designed in the 1948 — for launching long-range cruise missiles. Plans call for the eventual retirement of two other Air Force bombers — the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit.
The Air Force is requesting $4.2 billion to continue replacing the LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.
Cutting F-35A Lightning II fighter purchases will allow the Air Force to shift $3.5 billion in funds to develop the sixth-generation F-47 stealth fighter, announced in March by Trump. The development of small drones, which proved effective in attacks during the Russia-Ukraine war, will also see a boost in development funding.
The budget also calls for $3.1 billion to continue buying 21 F-15EX Eagle II interceptors.
The money from the F-35A cuts will also go toward increased funding for the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile and an extended-range version of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. The Air Force officials said Thursday that the weapons are crucial to maintain air superiority in the vast regions of the Indo-Pacific, where China is rapidly building its forces.
Another proposed budget victim is the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft. The Air Force cited cost overruns and questions about its survivability in combat zones. The Air Force had planned to buy 26 of the aircraft to replace older E-3 AWACs aircraft, but said at the briefing it would shift its surveillance emphasis to space-based satellites.
The service also plans to spend $39.8 billion on active-duty personnel, with an additional $2.75 billion for the Air Force Reserve and $5.6 billion for the Air National Guard.
Military construction for the Air Force is budgeted at $3.8 billion, with an additional $634 million allocated for family housing — the largest expenditure slated for any branch of the armed services.
At the congressional hearing Thursday, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., praised the Air Force for the long-range bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
“At the end of the day, nobody in the world but the U.S. Air Force can do what you did this weekend,” he said. “America’s ability to project power globally is unparalleled.”
But McConnell said the “two bills, one budget” approach to the defense budget is gambling the future of key military weapons programs by betting Congress would approve the one-time funding that requires only a majority vote in each chamber.
McConnell was critical of the bottom-line budget for the Air Force, which he said was not keeping up with the rapid expansion of China’s military — or inflation.
“The Air Force needs to modernize its bomber and fighter fleets,” he said. “It needs new tankers and command and control aircraft. It also needs longer-range and more sophisticated munitions. And it needs a lot of them.”
Why F-15EX jet is Air Force’s new $3B weapon against China
Pentagon invests $3 billion in F-15EX to boost Air Force power. F- 15EX replaces A-10s in Michigan’s National Guard with 21 jets. Advanced radar and weapons make F- FifteenEX a versatile war machine. It counters China”s J-20 in evolving Indo-Pacific tensions. Is F-FifteenEX is a long-term asset or a temporary fix for the Air Force? It is not clear if it will be used in future conflicts with Russia and China. It is a proven fourth-generation fighter to complement more advanced platforms. It can carry heavier payloads and operate at higher speeds than its forerunners. It has a service life of up to 20,000 flight hours, nearly double that of older F-fifteen jets. It offers superior target detection and tracking over long ranges compared to older radars. This enhances the aircraft’S survivability against modern air defense systems, a critical capability in potential conflicts with near-peer adversaries.
Summary
– Pentagon invests $3 billion in F-15EX to boost Air Force power.
– F-15EX replaces A-10s in Michigan’s National Guard with 21 jets.
– Advanced radar and weapons make F-15EX a versatile war machine.
– It counters China’s J-20 in evolving Indo-Pacific tensions.
– Is F-15EX a long-term asset or a temporary fix for the Air Force?
On June 26, 2025, the Pentagon unveiled its Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, allocating $3 billion to expand the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II program. This move will grow the planned fleet to 129 aircraft. This significant investment, announced during a press briefing, underscores a strategic pivot in America’s air combat priorities, emphasizing the modernization of a proven fourth-generation fighter to complement more advanced platforms.
The decision includes reequipping the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, replacing its aging A-10 Warthogs with 21 F-15EX jets. The announcement, first hinted at by former President Donald Trump in April 2025, highlights the aircraft’s role in maintaining U.S. air superiority amid evolving global threats and domestic defense needs. This development raises questions about the Air Force’s reliance on legacy platforms and its balancing act between cost, capability, and cutting-edge technology.
Evolution of the F-15EX: A classic reborn
The F-15 Eagle has been a cornerstone of American airpower since its debut in the 1970s, earning a formidable reputation in conflicts like Operation Desert Storm, where it secured numerous air-to-air victories without a single loss. Designed originally as an air superiority fighter, the Eagle evolved into the multirole F-15E Strike Eagle, capable of delivering precision strikes against ground targets.
The F-15EX, built by Boeing, represents the latest chapter in this storied lineage, blending the platform’s robust design with modern upgrades to meet 21st-century demands. Unlike its predecessors, the F-15EX incorporates advanced technologies that enhance its versatility and capabilities. Its airframe, while visually similar to earlier models, has been reinforced to support a service life of up to 20,000 flight hours, nearly double that of older F-15s.
The aircraft’s cockpit features a state-of-the-art digital interface, including large-area displays that streamline pilot operations. These upgrades, paired with improved engines, allow the F-15EX to carry heavier payloads and operate at higher speeds than its forerunners. The decision to modernize rather than retire the F-15 platform reflects a pragmatic approach, leveraging a proven design to address immediate operational needs while next-generation systems like the F-47, formerly known as the Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter, remain in development.
ABD’de F-35 İPTALİNE GİDEN ÖNEMLİ BİR ADIM daha atıldı.
150MİLYAR$’lık EK SAVUNMA BÜTÇESİNDE F-35’için 1cent bile yer almıyor.
F-47 ve CAC için: 7.2 MİLYAR $
F-15EX için: 3.15 MİLYAR $
var bu ek bütçede. AMA F-35 için “SIFIR” var.
ABD F-35’i kendisi için iptal edip F-55’e… pic.twitter.com/tw7GvGlDrN — KAAN TF-23 (@KAANTF_23) June 14, 2025
Technological leap: sensors, weapons, and versatility
At the heart of the F-15EX’s modernization is its advanced sensor suite. The aircraft is equipped with the Raytheon AN/APG-82(v)1 active electronically scanned array [AESA] radar, which offers superior target detection and tracking over long ranges compared to older mechanically scanned radars. This system allows the F-15EX to engage multiple targets simultaneously, even in contested environments with heavy electronic jamming.
Complementing the radar is the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System [EPAWSS], a sophisticated electronic warfare suite designed to detect and counter threats like enemy radar and missiles. This system enhances the aircraft’s survivability against modern air defense systems, a critical capability in potential conflicts with near-peer adversaries.
The F-15EX’s weapon-carrying capacity sets it apart from many contemporary fighters. Capable of carrying up to 29,500 pounds of ordnance, the aircraft can deploy a mix of air-to-air missiles, such as the AIM-120D AMRAAM, and air-to-ground munitions, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions [JDAMs] and Small Diameter Bombs. Its ability to carry hypersonic weapons, still under development, positions it as a platform for future high-speed strike missions.
According to Boeing, the F-15EX can carry 22 air-to-air missiles in certain configurations, offering unmatched firepower for air superiority roles. This versatility allows the aircraft to transition seamlessly between air dominance and precision strike missions, making it a valuable asset for a range of operational scenarios, from defending NATO airspace to supporting ground forces in contested regions.
The aircraft’s integration with network-centric warfare systems further amplifies its effectiveness. By sharing data with platforms like the F-35 Lightning II and unmanned systems such as the MQ-9 Reaper, the F-15EX can serve as a force multiplier, relaying targeting information or acting as a missile truck for stealthier platforms. This interoperability aligns with the Air Force’s vision of a connected battlefield, where disparate assets work in tandem to overwhelm adversaries.
🇺🇸 Donald Trump has requested a record defense budget from Congress for 2026 – $1.01 trillion, which is 13% more than $895 billion in 2025.
This is due to a large-scale reform of the armed forces to prepare for a possible war with China, based on the experience of the Ukrainian… pic.twitter.com/Pc5xi8IBq8 — Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 26, 2025
Psychology of the decision: Why not F-35 everywhere?
The decision to invest heavily in the F-15EX, rather than funneling all resources into the F-35 Lightning II, reflects a calculated response to ongoing challenges with the latter program. The F-35, designed as a fifth-generation stealth fighter, has faced persistent issues, including high maintenance costs and software glitches.
The Autonomic Logistics Information System [ALIS], now transitioning to the Operational Data Integrated Network [ODIN], has been criticized for its complexity and unreliability, often grounding aircraft for extended periods. These factors have strained the Air Force’s budget and operational readiness, prompting a search for complementary platforms that offer reliability and affordability.
The F-15EX addresses these concerns with a lower cost per flight hour compared to the F-35, estimated at roughly $29,000 versus $44,000 for the stealth fighter. Its proven airframe and mature supply chain reduce the risk of production delays, a persistent issue for the F-35.
By diversifying its fighter fleet, the Pentagon aims to mitigate the “vacuum of trust” surrounding the F-35’s operational reliability, ensuring that the Air Force can maintain a robust combat capability while addressing the stealth fighter’s shortcomings. This approach resonates with observers of military aviation, who often question the wisdom of relying solely on a single, high-cost platform for all mission types.
Boeing’s F-15EX and F/A-18 production hit by shortages of metals and composites, delivering only 25 jets in 2024 vs. Lockheed’s 146. A “just-in-time” F-35 supply chain risks failure in wartime, needing stockpiled parts. #FighterJetProduction — Ponderwall⚡ (@ponderwall) May 3, 2025
Role in the new military doctrine
The F-15EX’s design makes it uniquely suited to emerging U.S. Air Force doctrines like Agile Combat Employment [ACE] and distributed lethality, which prioritize flexibility and rapid deployment in contested environments. Unlike the F-35, which requires extensive logistical support, including specialized maintenance facilities and secure data networks, the F-15EX can operate from austere bases with minimal infrastructure. This capability aligns with ACE’s emphasis on dispersing forces across multiple locations to complicate enemy targeting and enhance survivability.
In the Indo-Pacific region, where vast distances and limited basing options pose challenges, the F-15EX’s long-range and large payload make it ideal for distributed operations. Its ability to carry external fuel tanks and heavy ordnance allows it to project power across thousands of miles, supporting missions from island-hopping campaigns to rapid response operations.
The aircraft’s relatively simple maintenance requirements compared to the F-35 enable it to sustain high sortie rates in remote environments, a critical factor in potential conflicts with adversaries like China, whose J-20 stealth fighters pose a growing threat. By integrating with unmanned systems and other networked platforms, the F-15EX enhances the Air Force’s ability to execute distributed lethality, striking targets from multiple vectors to overwhelm enemy defenses.
Strategic context: A response to global threats
The Pentagon’s prioritization of the F-15EX comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s military modernization has accelerated. The Chinese J-20, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, boasts advanced sensors and low-observable characteristics, challenging U.S. air superiority. While the F-15EX lacks stealth, its advanced radar and electronic warfare systems, combined with its ability to carry long-range missiles, make it a formidable counter to such threats. The aircraft’s range and payload capacity surpass those of the F-22 Raptor, which, while stealthy, is limited by a smaller weapons bay and higher operating costs.
The Air Force’s decision to bolster the F-15EX program also reflects a broader strategy to modernize its aging fighter fleet. With the F-35 program scaled back to 24 aircraft in the 2026 budget, down from a planned 48, the F-15EX serves as a cost-effective bridge to future capabilities like the F-47, which received $3.5 billion in the same budget for prototyping.
General Charles Q. Brown Jr., former Air Force Chief of Staff, emphasized the need for a balanced fleet to maintain air dominance through 2030, a vision that integrates the F-15EX as a workhorse alongside stealth platforms. This approach allows the Air Force to address immediate operational gaps while investing in next-generation technologies.
Lessons from the past, eyes on the future
The F-15’s combat record provides a strong foundation for the F-15EX’s role in future operations. During the 1991 Gulf War, F-15Cs achieved a 34-0 kill ratio against Iraqi aircraft, demonstrating unmatched air superiority. The F-15E Strike Eagle later proved its versatility in Afghanistan and Iraq, delivering precision strikes against Taliban and ISIS targets. The F-15EX builds on this legacy, offering enhanced capabilities for similar missions while adapting to modern threats.
In hypothetical scenarios, the F-15EX could patrol vast swaths of the Pacific, countering Chinese air incursions or supporting NATO allies against Russian aggression. Its ability to integrate with drones, such as the MQ-25 Stingray, allows it to extend its reach and effectiveness in joint operations.
For instance, the F-15EX could act as a forward sensor node, relaying targeting data to stealth platforms or unmanned systems, enhancing the Air Force’s ability to penetrate heavily defended airspace. This networked approach mirrors successful operations in Syria, where F-15Es coordinated with F-22s and drones to strike ISIS targets with minimal losses.
Gaps and challenges: A critical look at the program
Despite its strengths, the F-15EX program faces significant hurdles. The Government Accountability Office recently highlighted supply chain issues, including delays caused by improperly drilled holes in the aircraft’s fuselage, which have slowed production. Boeing aims to increase output from one to two aircraft per month by April 2026, but meeting this target remains uncertain.
The $3 billion investment aims to address these challenges, but questions linger about the program’s cost-effectiveness, especially with a planned fleet of 129 aircraft. Each F-15EX costs approximately $90 million, comparable to the F-35, raising concerns about whether the funds could be better allocated to stealth platforms or emerging technologies.
The lack of stealth capabilities is another point of contention. Against advanced air defense systems like Russia’s S-400 or China’s HQ-9, the F-15EX’s reliance on electronic warfare and standoff weapons may not suffice. While the EPAWSS system offers robust protection, it cannot fully compensate for the aircraft’s large radar cross-section. Critics argue that the Air Force’s focus on a non-stealth platform reflects a short-term fix rather than a long-term strategy, particularly as adversaries continue to field stealthier fighters.
Geopolitical and industrial implications
The F-15EX program strengthens Boeing’s position in the defense sector, which has faced setbacks with programs like the E-7 Wedgetail. The investment signals confidence in the company’s ability to deliver a reliable platform, potentially opening doors for export deals. Countries like Poland and Israel, both F-15 operators, have expressed interest in the F-15EX, which could bolster U.S. alliances and counter Russian and Chinese influence in global arms markets. The aircraft’s export potential mirrors that of the F-16, which remains a staple for many NATO allies.
This move also reflects a broader trend of modernizing fourth-generation platforms to offset the high costs of fifth- and sixth-generation fighters. With the F-47 program still years from operational deployment, the F-15EX provides a pragmatic solution, balancing capability with affordability. The Air Force’s decision to retire all 162 A-10 Warthogs ahead of schedule further underscores this shift, redirecting resources to platforms like the F-15EX that can handle diverse missions with lower logistical overhead.
A bridge to the future or a temporary fix?
The Pentagon’s $3 billion investment in the F-15EX Eagle II marks a pivotal moment in the Air Force’s evolution, blending the reliability of a proven platform with modern technology to address immediate and future threats.
By equipping the Michigan Air National Guard and expanding the fleet to 129 aircraft, the U.S. is doubling down on a versatile fighter capable of air superiority, precision strikes, and networked warfare. Its role in doctrines like Agile Combat Employment and its ability to counter near-peer adversaries ensure its relevance in a rapidly changing strategic landscape.
Yet, the program’s challenges—supply chain woes, high costs, and the absence of stealth—raise questions about its long-term viability. As the Air Force navigates budget constraints and invests in next-generation systems, the F-15EX serves as a bridge, but its success will depend on Boeing’s ability to deliver and the Pentagon’s capacity to integrate it into a cohesive strategy.
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US Air Force to retire all A-10s, cancel E-7 under 2026 spending plan
The Air Force wants to retire its final 162 A-10 Warthog attack jets in fiscal 2026. The Pentagon also plans to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program over what an official said were “significant delays” The service released its list of planned aircraft retirements as the Pentagon released its belated 2026 budget plan. If Congress grants the Air Force all of its requested retirements, it would be the biggest aircraft retirement in years. But the proposed retirement list does not include Block 20 F-22A Raptors, roughly 32 of which the Air Air Force has tried to retire in recent years over concerns that they are not combat-capable. The budget would also call for $10.3 billion in spending for the Northrop B-21 Raider bomber that will be capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and the LGM-4 Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile which will replace the aging Minuteman III. It calls for $1.6 billion to keep procuring via Grumman, plus another $2.1 billion in reconciliation spending.
The Pentagon also plans to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program over what an official said were “significant delays” and cost increases.
The service released its list of planned aircraft retirements as the Pentagon released its belated 2026 budget plan, which calls for a $211 billion discretionary budget for the Department of the Air Force. That includes a $184.9 billion discretionary budget for the U.S. Air Force itself, and a $26.1 billion discretionary budget for the Space Force.
The Pentagon also wants to add another $38.6 billion in “mandatory” spending as part of the budget reconciliation bill, which would include $24.7 billion for the Air Force and $13.8 billion for the Space Force. If that passes, the department would receive $249.5 billion in total funding, which would be a 17.2% increase over enacted spending in 2025.
But if the reconciliation bill does not pass, and the administration’s request is enacted unchanged, the Space Force would see an 8.7% cut in spending from 2025, while the Air Force’s spending would be virtually flat from the $184.1 billion enacted in 2025.
If Congress grants the Air Force all of its requested retirements, it would be the biggest aircraft retirement in years.
The service said earlier this year that, in response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order to cut and reallocate about 8% of defense spending, it planned to accelerate its plans to retire old and outdated aircraft.
The plan to completely shutter the A-10 program would be a dramatic acceleration of the service’s previous timeline, which would have retired all Warthogs by the end of this decade. And while lawmakers have in recent years acquiesced to Air Force requests to retire some Warthogs — after years of bitter disagreements between the service and Capitol Hill over the future utility of the jet — it remains far from clear whether Congress has the appetite to mothball all of the attack jets.
In addition to the A-10s, the Air Force wants to retire 62 F-16Cs and Ds, 21 F-15Es, 13 F-15Cs and Ds, 14 C-130H Hercules cargo planes, and 3 EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare planes.
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle performs a flare check over an unspecified area of U.S. Central Command, March 9, 2025. (Senior Airman Zachary Willis/Air Force)
The service’s retirement list also includes 14 KC-135 Stratotankers, 11 HH-60G combat rescue helicopters, 35 T-1 Texan trainers, 4 UH-1N helicopters and a B-1 Lancer.
But the proposed retirement list does not include Block 20 F-22A Raptors, roughly 32 of which the Air Force has tried to retire in recent years over concerns that they are not combat-capable. Congress has repeatedly blocked those efforts.
E-7 on ice
In a June 26 briefing with reporters, an Air Force official said the cost of an E-7 airborne battle management aircraft had grown from $588 million to $724 million, helping prompt its cancellation. The official said the department had concerns over whether it would survive in a contested environment.
Instead, the Pentagon is looking for ways to accomplish the mission that would have been done by the Wedgetail with space-based assets, and adding more Northrop E-2D Hawkeye aircraft.
This would be a major shift for the Air Force, which is retiring its aging E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control, or AWACS, aircraft and has for years seen the E-7 as the best successor.
The budget would also call for $10.3 billion in spending for the B-21 Raider, the Northrop Grumman-made stealth bomber that will be capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and $4.2 billion for the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, which will replace the aging Minuteman III. Northrop is also building a Sentinel.
Procurement funding for the B-21 would grow from $1.9 billion in 2025 to $2.6 billion in 2026, plus another $2.1 billion in reconciliation spending. If all spending is enacted by Congress, that would more than double the procurement budget for the Raider.
The B-21 Raider at Northrop Grumman’s manufacturing facility on Edwards Air Force Base, California. (DOD via Northrop Grumman)
The budget calls for $3.1 billion to keep procuring the F-15EX Eagle II, which the Air Force had previously considered winding down after 2025. The Pentagon next year wants to buy 21 of the Boeing-made jets, which are an updated version of the fourth-generation F-15E, up from 18 in 2025.
The military plans to sharply cut its purchase of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to 47 across the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps in 2026. That would be down from 74 in 2025.
For the Air Force, the F-35A procurement would be cut nearly in half, from 44 tails in 2025 to 24 next year. Air Force spending on the Lockheed Martin-made jet would drop from $4.5 billion this year to $3.6 billion in 2026.
This would mean the Air Force would get 45 new fighters in 2026, which is below the benchmark of 72 annual fighter procurements the service says is necessary to modernize its fleet.
The Pentagon said money that would have been spent on procuring more F-35s will instead go to sustainment of the jets, and ensuring it has a strong enough supply base to support all the needed operations and maintenance. The Pentagon also wants to dedicate money to ensuring the jets’ Block 4 upgrades will stay on track.
The Air Force’s budget also includes $807 million in funding for its drone wingmen program, called Collaborative Combat Aircraft, which it hopes will accelerate development of platforms and autonomy.
The service is also requesting a $73.2 billion discretionary budget and a $4.5 billion mandatory — or reconciliation bill — budget for operations and maintenance, $44.3 billion in discretionary spending and about $200 million in mandatory spending for personnel. The research development, test and evaluation budget would total $46.4 billion, including $36.2 billion in discretionary spending and $10.2 billion in mandatory spending.
The F-47 fighter, also known as Next Generation Air Dominance, would see its R&D budget increase from $2.4 billion in 2025 to nearly $2.6 billion in 2026. If another $900 million in spending requested as part of the reconciliation bill passes, that would bring the Boeing-made F-47’s budget to almost $3.5 billion.
The service’s total procurement budget request would reach $36.2 billion, or $26.5 billion in discretionary spending and $9.7 billion in reconciliation bill spending.
With reconciliation spending included, the Air Force’s procurement budget would include $24.8 billion for aircraft, $6.1 billion for missiles and $784 million for ammunition.
The Air Force wants to buy 14 Boeing-made T-7A Red Hawk trainer aircraft for $362 million in 2026. But there would be no new funding for the E-7 airborne battle management aircraft, also made by Boeing, amid a disagreement between the service and top Pentagon leadership over whether space-based target tracking would be better than an airborne platform.
The proposed budget would restore $387 million in funding for Lockheed’s hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon. This could resurrect a program that once seemed doomed after several failed tests in recent years.
Procurement spending on the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP — which was used for the first time last weekend to strike multiple Iranian nuclear sites — would be slightly lower in 2026. The Air Force has nearly $8.6 million budgeted for the MOP in 2025, which would drop to $6.8 million in 2026.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
USAF cancels E-7 Wedgetail program, all A-10s to be retired in 2026
USAF cancels E-7 Wedgetail program due to ballooning costs and concerns about survivability. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told to lawmakers that the Pentagon is looking to space-based assets to take over the mission of tracking aerial targets. USAF wants now to retire all remaining 162 A-10 Warthog close air support (CAS) aircraft in 2026 instead of phasing them out more gradually before 2030. USAF says the low-and-slow-flying plane would not be able to survive in a fight against a nation with modern air defenses, like China. But the wholesale retirement of the Warthogs fleet could prompt concerns about the overall number of combat aircraft the Air Force has in its fleet. The U.S. Air Force must move on to cutting-edge capabilities that can survive in contested airspace and will keep the service ahead of China, the threat pacing the pacing of China,. the AirModels.com report says.
Because if increasing costs and concerns about survivability, the US Air Force (USAF) has canceled the E-7 Wedgetail program due to ballooning costs and concerns about survivability, Breaking Defense reports.
The termination, announced as part of the fiscal 2026 budget rollout, comes after doubts on the future of the E-7 were recently raised after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told to lawmakers that the Pentagon is looking to space-based assets [known as the air moving target indicator (AMTI) mission] to take over the mission of tracking aerial targets.
“The Department is canceling the E-7 Wedgetail program due to significant delays with cost increases from $588 million to $724 million for aircraft and survivability concerns in this contested environment, while investing in alternate solutions, including space-based capabilities and adding additional E-2D aircraft,” the senior military official told reporters in a briefing today.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Jun. 26, cast doubts about the fact that the E-2D would not be able to match the Wedgetail’s capabilities, and quoted prior statements from Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein that a space-based capability wouldn’t be available until the early 2030s.
“We just haven’t heard, in my view, sufficient justification for the cancellation of such a critical program,” Murkowski told Air Force leaders.
Not survivable in the modern battlefield
The E-7 is an “example of a platform that is “not survivable in the modern battlefield. While the Pentagon is “going to fund existing platforms that are there more robustly and make sure they’re modernized a great deal of ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] in the future will be space-based,” Hegseth recently said while answering to questions from House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Cole during a hearing on Capitol Hill.
The Pentagon has already started testing sensors for tracking airborne targets on board satellites NORTHCOM Commander Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot recently said at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton, Space Force deputy for strategy, plans, programs and requirements confirmed Guillot’s statement.
All A-10s to be retired in 2026
Additionally, the USAF wants now to retire all remaining 162 A-10 Warthog close air support (CAS) aircraft in 2026 instead of phasing them out more gradually before 2030.
In the past the USAF and Congress have disagreed over what to do with the iconic CAS aircraft. While the A-10 was known and beloved for its CAS role in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last two decades, the USAF says the low-and-slow-flying plane would not be able to survive in a fight against a nation with modern air defenses, like China.
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But the wholesale retirement of the Warthog fleet could prompt concerns about the overall number of combat aircraft the Air Force has in its fleet.
The then USAF Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. announced on Mar. 7, 2023 that the service wanted to retire all its A-10 Warthog attack aircraft over the next five or six years.
“We’re retiring A-10s faster than we originally thought”, Brown then said. “I think that’s probably the right answer.”
Combatant commands have not been asking for A-10s, Brown said, and he has a hard time getting them to use them because it’s “a single-mission airplane.”
“The A-10 is a great airplane … in an uncontested environment,” Brown said. “The challenge is, we’re going to be in more contested environments in the future.”
The A-10’s close air support mission can be carried out by a variety of other platforms, Brown said, and the Air Force must move on to cutting-edge capabilities that can survive in contested airspace and will keep the service ahead of China, the pacing threat.
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Photo credit: U.S. Air Force