U.S. Air Force To Buy 72 New F-15 Or F-16 Fighter Jets Because The F-35 Is Too Expensive

The F 35 (back) flies alongside the F 16 (front). US Air Force

The Diplomat: F-35 Too Expensive: US Air Force Might Buy 72 New F-15 or F-16 Fighter Jets

The U.S. Air Force is contemplating adding 72 F-15, F-16 or even F-18 fighter aircraft due to low F-35 production rates.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter might not be produced in sufficient numbers to maintain the U.S. Air Force’s current operational capabilities due to budgetary constraints, according to Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. As a result the service is considering filling the capabilities gap with 72 Boeing F-15s, Lockheed-Martin F-16’s, or even Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

“F-15s and F-16s are now expected to serve until 2045, when an all-new aircraft will be ready, and plans to modernize F-16s with active electronically scanned array radars and other improvements are being revived,” the article states.

U.S. Air Force officials and industry officials revealed as much at the Defense IQ International Fighter Conference, which took place November 17-19 in London. The U.S. Air Force “is struggling to afford 48 F-35s a year” for the first years of full-rate production a senior Air Force officer told Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.

Update: U.S. Considers Up To 72 New F-15s Or F-16s (Aviation Week)

WNU Editor: More proof that the F-35 is sucking all the money in the Pentagon's budget.