Combat readiness of the US Air Force aircraft has fallen to a new low

According to the latest data, the combat readiness of the US Air Force aircraft has dropped to a record low. In 2024, the average mission readiness level for the entire fleet was only 62%, which is the lowest in recent years. This is happening against the background of the aging arsenal of the Air Force, numbering more than 5,000 aircraft, and the increasing difficulties in maintaining them in the air.

Reasons for decreased combat readiness

The main reason for the decrease in combat readiness is the aging of the aircraft fleet. Many USAF aircraft were built during the Cold War, and some during the Vietnam War. For example, B-52 Stratofortress bombers, C-5 Galaxy transport planes and KC-135 Stratotanker tankers have been in service for decades. This leads to problems with the provision of spare parts, as many manufacturers of original components no longer exist.

Reduced availability of the main types of aircraft

In recent years, combat readiness has decreased for almost all major types of aircraft. For example:

- The F-35A, one of the most modern and expensive fighter jets, was ready for missions in 2021 69% of the time, but by 2024 this figure had dropped to 51.5%

. - A-10 Warthog: from 72% in 2021 to 67% in 2024.

- F-16C: from 72% in 2021 to 64% in 2024.

- CV-22 Osprey: from 51% in 2021 to 30% in 2024.

- KC-46 Pegasus: from 71% in 2021 to 61% in 2024.

 Impact on military capabilities

Reduced combat readiness means that the US Air Force is increasingly forced to choose which aircraft to use for missions. This is especially true for priority operations abroad, where aircraft receive more resources and spare parts, but even in these conditions, for example, at the Central Command of the US Air Force, the problem of fleet aging is not solved automatically.