# Air Force Sets 2035 Fighter Target

The U.S. Air Force’s FY2026 fighter-force analysis sets a 2035 target of 1,509 combat-coded aircraft for a moderate-risk posture and 1,723 for a low-risk posture. Its FY2027 procurement plan includes 24 F-15EXs and 24 F-35s in the base budget, with 14 additional F-35s contingent on reconciliation funding; the additional 14 are associated with a $2.34 billion request. Proposed multiyear production and sustainment arrangements could give suppliers a more predictable demand signal, but funding decisions and aircraft delivery capacity remain schedule constraints. The Air Force also identifies a goal of 500 collaborative combat aircraft by 2032 as a parallel unmanned-aircraft demand area.

- The fleet plan identifies F-35s as about 40% of the 2035 target fleet and F-22/F-47 aircraft as about 20%; companies can use these targets and FY2027 quantities for production and supply-chain planning, while recognizing that plans depend on funding and delivery capacity.
- Contractors involved in F-35 and F-15EX production should account for the proposed multiyear procurement and sustainment negotiations as potential sources of longer-term demand, not finalized awards.
- The 14 additional F-35s remain contingent on reconciliation funding. The proposed 500-aircraft CCA goal also signals a separate future area of Air Force demand.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 22, 2026

### Government Entities
- United States Air Force (USAF)
- United States Congress

### Vendors
- Lockheed Martin (F-35 contractor)
- Boeing (F-15EX contractor)

### Sources
- [US Air Force outlines the fighter fleet it needs by 2035](https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/10/21/us-air-force-outlines-the-fighter-fleet-it-needs-by-2035) - Defense News
- [Air Force needs 1,509 combat-ready jets by 2035, service tells Congress - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/10/air-force-needs-1509-combat-ready-jets-by-2035-service-tells-congress) - Breaking Defense