The US Air Force is in a budget dispute over the cost of replacing the F-22 Raptors and paying for fighters of the future, which has sparked debates about upcoming air dominance and strategic priorities versus near-peer adversaries.
The US Government Accountability Office ( GAO ) criticized the USAF’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2023, according to Airforce Technology this month. According to the GAO, the USAF failed to provide enough information to Congress regarding the effects of retiring older F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, especially the Block 20 training variants.
Airforce Technology notes that  , USAF operates 32 F- 22 Block 20 soldiers, never upgraded to the potential levels of the more sophisticated Block 30/35 designs.
The USAF’s plan, according to the GAO, lacked important details, including other teaching strategies without Block 20s and possible advantages of upgrading these plane rather than retiring them.
According to Northrop Grumman, upgrading the Block 20 aircraft to the Block 30/35 standard would cost at least$ 3.3 billion and take roughly 15 years. It points out, however, that the USAF deemed this minimal data to be enough for its uses in contrast to the GAO’s suggestion for more in-depth data to support decision-making.
Additionally, the release mentions that the National Defense Authorization Act prohibits reducing the F- 22 products. That prevents Block 20 plane from retiring until the Air Force’s secretary presents a comprehensive program to Congress.
The Next Generation Air Dominance system also has a possible uncertain future because it was once touted as the future of US air superiority. The USAF is considering shifts to its NGAD programme, which aimed to create a sixth-generation fighter aircraft, according to a report released this month from Defense One. Due to budget constraints, technical difficulties, and the development of air supremacy principles, Defense One points out.
The release mentions that General David Allvin, the Air Force’s chief of staff, and Frank Kendall, the Air Force’s minister, have resisted funding the NGAD program. This time, the software was scheduled to choose a champion between Lockheed Martin and Boeing. But, the USAF’s devotion to the system is now in question, with Allvin emphasizing that no ultimate decision has been made.
Defense One takes note of the NGAD’s possible withdrawal and its significant effects on the US defense sector. Delays in Lockheed Martin’s F- 35 programme and Boeing’s disappointing security efficiency are contributing factors, along with Boeing’s management issues and Lockheed Martin’s lack of incentives for cost- successful execution.
Defense One points out that the USAF struggles with funding for the F-35, B-21 Raider, and Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) programs, which are estimated to cost USD 300 million per unit. Additionally, it claims that new developments in drones and new technologies are reevaluating air dominance strategies.
The F-22 may become obsolete upon delivery, despite the US’s efforts to upgrade it to maintain its relevance as an air superiority platform.
As part of its plan to evolve military hardware and manage potential technological risks, the USAF decided to develop more advanced and combat-ready F-22 models in May 2024 in response to Asia Times ‘ report.
Over the next ten years, the US F-22 fleet will receive a USD 22 billion upgrade, which might allow the fighter to remain operational until the 2040s.
The F- 22 aircraft will undergo significant upgrades to improve its avionics, stealth capability, and overall survivability. These upgrades will be applied to 142 F- 22s, addressing various maintenance and operational requirements.
However, putting together an F-22 upgrade will require a lot of time and resources that could be better used to create a more sophisticated fighter. By the time the upgrades are finished, there are also concerns that the F-22 might no longer be relevant for its intended purpose.
Additionally, Asia Times has noted that the US military might not make the best use of resources from the sixth generation. It might be preferable to concentrate on more affordable unmanned systems and space-based weapons platforms that are in line with future strategic requirements.
The US military’s effectiveness may be compromised by excessive investment in complex and expensive warplanes, particularly in crucial areas like space.
Despite having several options available, the US has its own set of challenges. Older aircraft are reaching the end of their upgrade potential, longer development times for new fighter jets, F-35 production issues, and cost-benefit challenges when upgrading the F-22.
Heather Penney advises the Air Force to continue extending the life of some of the older aircraft because they are essential for combat infrastructure in a paper from the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in October 2021. Penney points out that in order to maintain combat capability, older aircraft are no longer practical in contested battlespace.
Penney makes the point that the F-15EX can provide a stopgap solution for the USAF’s fighter woes, but it lacks the resilience of stealth aircraft, and funding for it could be better used to develop fighter aircraft that is current with threats.
Penney suggests that a clean-sheet fighter design might be a viable option in a near-peer conflict, but it must also be affordable and affordable enough to allow recapitalization and high-tempo usage. She claims that the only realistic course of action is to speed up F-35A procurement given the length of any new fighter program.
But that course of action has its challenges. The F-35 stealth fighter program has been delayed, and the USAF may not be able to purchase as many F-35s as originally planned due to budget cuts, according to an article from Asia Times in March 2024. Despite this, the 2025 cuts will still allow for progress on modernization.
Penney claims that there is no other credible fifth-generation aircraft that can compete with China and Russia while the US struggles to ramp up F-35 production.
In addition, Penney notes that while the USAF determines how to advance its NGAD program, extending the service life of the F- 22 fleet is imperative, albeit taking into account previously mentioned pitfalls.