Some House lawmakers want to prevent the Air Force from retiring older F-22A Raptor fighters and keep the F-15EX Eagle II jets in production a year longer than planned. The proposed fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act would allow the service to cut 56 A-10 Warthogs. Originally, the Air Force planned to retire 250 aircraft in FY25 to save over $2 billion, including 32 Block 20 F-22 jets deemed too costly to prepare for combat. The committee’s proposed NDAA would reverse these decisions and keep the F-22s. The bill would also pause the retirement of 26 F-15E Strike Eagles with less effective engines and grant other retirements, like 56 A-10 Warthogs, 65 F-15C and F-15D Eagle fighters, and 11 F-16 Fighting Falcons.
The NDAA would add $271 million to buy an additional 24 F-15EXs in 2026, keeping Boeing’s production line for the jet active. This would leave the Air Force with a total F-15EX fleet of 122 fighters, fewer than the original plan of 144 but more than the recent program of record of 98. Lawmakers feel the F-22s are still relevant for the future and are essential for a potential fight against China later this decade. The bill ensures options to continue the F-15EX line in 2026. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News, previously covering leadership, personnel, special operations, and air warfare.