The Senate’s proposed National Defense Authorization Act would leave the military’s planned purchases of 68 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in fiscal 2025 unchanged. The chamber’s draft NDAA represents the latest of three different approaches lawmakers are taking to F-35 purchases for next year. The Air Force’s FY25 budget proposal requested money to buy 42 F-35As, while the House’s version would drastically slash F-35 purchases down to 58 initially.
The House NDAA would then bar the Pentagon from accepting delivery of 10 of those remaining jets until F-35 issues are fixed. The House Armed Services Committee proposed cutting F-35 purchases in the House NDAA and reinvesting the saved money to ensure the jets work properly. The Senate NDAA would grant the Air Force’s request to retire 56 A-10 Warthogs and older F-15C and F-15D Eagles.
The Senate NDAA also calls for the Air Force to hold onto E-3 Sentry aircraft until replaced by the E-7, and requires an annual report on the tactical fighter force structure. Additionally, the Senate NDAA includes funding for the Air Force to buy more combat rescue helicopters while reducing funding for other programs due to contract delays. The Air Force and Navy are jointly conducting a study on future air superiority missions in the 2030s and 2040s.
