(The Center Square) – Dominance in national air power defense would be enhanced through three proposals awaiting action in the Committee on Armed Services, says senators from North Carolina and New Hampshire and some of their colleagues.
Expanded fighter aircraft production, retention of mid-career Air Force aviators, and a program to “correct the most acute pilot manning challenges for the Air Force” have been brought together led by Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. Shaheen said getting serious about China’s influence is pivotal; Budd said military superiority is tied to the air.
“The future of American military dominance relies on maintaining our air superiority, and the path forward is clear – rebuild our Defense Industrial Base through restoring our combat aircraft forces and retaining experienced aviators,” Budd said. “We cannot afford to fall behind China, and that is why Senator Shaheen and I have brought forward a robust, bipartisan legislative package that gives the U.S. a fighting chance to preserve our airpower to be the most lethal fighting force in modern warfare, while also retaining our nation’s most elite pilots.”
Introductions of the three bills came Wednesday.
“If the administration truly views China as the pacing challenge to our nation, we need to get serious about curbing their growing global influence – and that includes air dominance,” Shaheen said. “Our commonsense, multi-pronged approach will make an overdue investment in American fighter capacity to help ensure the United States keeps our competitive edge for generations to come.”
The Airpower Acceleration Act, known also as Senate Bill 4374, authorizes multi-year procurement of the F-15EX and F-35 fighter jets. The minimum increase of fighter aircraft would rise from 1,369 in 2030 to 1,558 in 2035.
The F-15EX production would rise to 200, helping the aging F-15E fleet.
The Retention Enhancements for Tactical Aircrew Initiative Act, known also as the RETAIN Act and Senate Bill 4375, has incentives to be offered by the secretary of the Air Force. Not all incentives in the legislation include pay raise; rather, it’s duty location of officer’s preference, assignment and status, and ability to transition indefinitely to a noncombat aviation service career path.
There are monetary incentives elsewhere in the proposal.
The Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act, known also as Senate Bill 4373, permits a one-time career intermission for Air Force fighter crew lasting four months to one year. Aviators can go to the civilian workforce and still be able to return to active duty.
Budd and Shaheen have support on the package from Sens. Angus King, I-Maine; Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.; Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; Tim Sheehy, R-Mont.; Tim Kaine, D-Va.; and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. All are members of the Committee on Armed Services.
In Budd’s North Carolina, the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro has more than 90 F-15E Strike Eagles. In Shaheen’s New Hampshire, the 157th Air Refueling Wing is hosted at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington/Portsmouth.
The primary home of the F-15EX Eagle II is the 142nd Wing at Portland Air National Guard Base. The primary operational home for the F-35A Lightning II within the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings is at Hill Air Force Base between Ogden and Layton in Utah.
