[Tintin Storm]

Keeping the U.S. Air Force's massive fleet airborne is becoming increasingly difficult. Air Force data published by the Air Force Times has found that the mission capable rate for the entire fleet was 73.1% in 2015 and that fell to 71.3% in 2017. While that drop doesn't appear to be significant at first glance, a closer look at availability rates across some of the Air Force's most important platforms spells serious trouble. Years of punishing service over Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan has resulted in a slight drop in the F-16's mission capable rate which fell from 73.7% in 2015 to 70.2% in 2017. Likewise, the A-10 attack aircraft and C-17 transport have seen their availability fall 3 and 1.4 percentage points respectively over the same period.
Notably, the situation is far worse when it comes to the Air Force's newest and most advanced fighter aircraft. Between 2015 and 2018, the F-35A's availability plummeted from 68% to just 55%. That's despite the Air Force never employing the aircraft in combat, though Marine Corps and Israeli F-35s have already conducted airstrikes in the Middle East. The $150 million F-22 Raptor is also plagued by availability problems. In 2015, the aircraft had a mission capable rate of just over 67% but last year, that plunged to a dismal 49%.
There are several reasons for the availability crisis across the Air Force fleet and the punishing operational tempo in the Middle East since 9/11 is certainly a major one. However, there are other factors such as a serious shortage in maintenance personnel and an ageing fleet. Even though the F-35 and F-22 are new, both airframes require a higher level of maintenance on their stealth coatings to keep them operational. The key takeaway from the data is that in the future, the Air Force may struggle to hold on to pilots and respond to contingencies around the world. The service is already struggling with a critical pilot shortage and it needs around 2,000 new pilots. If there are not enough operational airframes across the fleet, it will become increasingly likely that pilots will leave the Air Force, with many attracted by lucrative salaries in commercial aviation.

[Zagadka]

Good thing we drastically overspend on a ridiculously sized military. 73% of it will still solo Europe.

[One Degree]

Good thing we drastically overspend on a ridiculously sized military. 73% of it will still solo Europe.

I remember when we were suppose to be switching to a smaller military and emphasis on rapid deployments. The idea made a lot of sense to be. Our continuing reliance on aircraft carrier groups seems to be counter intuitive to this goal. Those suckers will only move so fast, so we need lots of them.

If my quick figuring is correct, we can build 153 F 35 A’s for the price of an aircraft carrier. It has also been argued the navy’s f35 doesn’t have the range for a stealth strike anyway.

[Heisenberg]

I guess it's a good thing that the prospect of anyone even considering invading the USA is approximately zero.

American paranoia over having a "weak military" is hilarious.

[blackjack21]

More impetus for pilotless drones and automating maintenance. On the one hand, they have a lot of planes designed in the 1970s--and still use the venerable B-52 and C-130 designed in the 1950s. Stealth technology is a game changer, but on two fronts. It makes it very difficult to detect planes with radar, but they are also damned expensive to maintain. That's why the F117A is retired, but the F-16 is not.

Cancelling the F-22 was a huge mistake (Barack Obama, John McCain, et. al.).

However, even drones need to be flown by computer to take as much load off the pilots as possible. The Air Force needs to make that cultural change. In fact, the entire US government needs to make that change.