Amid increasing international demand for the warplanes, the Pentagon isn't buying enough of them, argues a former U.S. top NATO commander in Europe. By Philip Breedlove
16 months ago Over the past three months, Biden officials shifted toward the view that it was time to provide the aircraft for Ukraine's long-term security. The Air Force plans to award a contract to a vendor to build its Next Generation Air Dominance fighter in 2024. The Public Service Reform Act would also dismantle the Merit Systems Protection Board. The Senate is preparing a new bill meant to hamper China's artificial intelligence development and help back Pacific security partners. The vendor said putting Technology Refresh 3 into the F-35 has been very difficult, but that the company is now "in the very late innings." Top Air Force leaders have said for years that it needs to buy at least 72 new fighters each year to both modernize its fighter fleet and lower its age. The head of the F-35 program also said the military has recently made progress in getting access to more of the fighter's data from Lockheed Martin. “When you have that mentality, a hiccup in the supply chain … becomes your single point of failure," the F-35's program executive officer said Monday. NATO’s eastern flank has become an ideal proving ground for America’s most advanced fighter jet. Load More