The US Air Force (USAF) has unveiled a plan aimed at improving mission rates for US fighter squadrons, specifically for squadrons operating aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, F-35A Lighting II and F-16. Fighting Falcon.
According to the Defense News website, the mission rates of the squadrons are lower than expected by the US Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis. And that plan in question was confirmed by then USAF Secretary Heather Wilson.
In September Mattis ordered the USAF and US Navy to target 80% mission availability by the end of 2019, a significant increase from where they were when those numbers were last released to the public.
According to Air Force data for fiscal 2017 released in March, the F-16C fleet reported a 70,22% mission-based rate, the F-35A fleet reported 54,67%, and the F-22A recorded a low rate of 49,01%.
The changes would also happen in the Air National Guard, which is subject to the Air Force, according to Wilson, the improvements would come from new pilots to a change in the maintenance requirement with the creation of a second shift of maintenance professionals so that the aircraft are as ready as possible. for a possible emergency takeoff.
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin has also taken a stand on this issue of rate increases USAF squadrons are eager to these mission rate increases. The company in question is currently the main supplier of aircraft that fulfill the USAF spearhead, such as the F16, F-22 and F-35.
Large USAF investments
This news shows how the US government is concerned about the activity and readiness of the Air Force. Another example that shows this was the measure proposed by the USAF to create 74 new combat squadrons within the US Air Force, thus ing the existing 312. These new squadrons would be created by 2025 and along with them, 40.000 pilots would be trained.
Today, USAF spending is not low, aircraft like the F-22 and F-35 are expensive to maintain, in addition to having extra expenses with personnel, training, accommodation and others. An official figure for annual spending within the USAF has not been released, but it is believed to be around $30 billion a year.
