Sec. 132. Limitation on retirement of Air Force fighter aircraft
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Section 8062 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: Effective October 1, 2015, the Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain a total aircraft inventory of fighter aircraft of not less than 1,950 aircraft, and a total primary mission aircraft inventory (combat-coded) of not less than 1,116 fighter aircraft. In this subsection: The term fighter aircraft means an aircraft that— is designated by a mission design series prefix of F– or A–; is manned by one or two crewmembers; and executes single-role or multi-role missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground attack, air interdiction, suppression or destruction of enemy air defenses, close air support, strike control and reconnaissance, combat search and rescue support, or airborne forward air control.
The term primary mission aircraft inventory means aircraft assigned to meet the primary aircraft authorization to a unit for the performance of its wartime mission. . The Secretary of the Air Force may not proceed with a decision to retire fighter aircraft in any number that would reduce the total number of such aircraft in the Air Force total active inventory
(TAI)below 1,950, and shall maintain a minimum of 1,116 fighter aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory (PMAI). The Secretary of the Air Force may not retire fighter aircraft from the total active inventory as of the date of the enactment of this Act until the later of the following: The date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the report required under paragraph (3). The date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that— the retirement of such fighter aircraft will not increase the operational risk of meeting the National Defense Strategy; and the retirement of such aircraft will not reduce the total fighter force structure below 1,950 fighter aircraft or the primary mission aircraft inventory below 1,116. The Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the following: The rationale for the retirement of existing fighter aircraft and an operational analysis of replacement fighter aircraft that demonstrates performance of the designated mission at an equal or greater level of effectiveness as the retiring aircraft. An assessment of the implications for the Air Force, the Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve of the force mix ratio of fighter aircraft. Such other matters relating to the retirement of fighter aircraft as the Secretary considers appropriate. At least 90 days before the date on which a fighter aircraft is retired, the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with (where applicable) the Director of the Air National Guard or Chief of the Air Force Reserve, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the proposed force structure and basing of fighter aircraft. Each report submitted under paragraph
(1)shall include the following elements: A list of each aircraft in the inventory of fighter aircraft, including for each such aircraft— the mission design series type; the variant; and the assigned unit and military installation where such aircraft is based. A list of each fighter aircraft proposed for retirement, including for each such aircraft— the mission design series type; the variant; and the assigned unit and military installation where such aircraft is based. A list of each unit affected by a proposed retirement listed under subparagraph
(B)and a description of how such unit is affected. For each military installation and unit listed under subparagraph (B)(iii), a description of changes, if any, to the designed operational capability
(DOC)statement of the unit as a result of a proposed retirement. A description of any anticipated changes in manpower authorizations as a result of a proposed retirement listed under subparagraph (B). In this section, the term fighter aircraft has the meaning given the term in subsection (i)(2)(A) of section 8062 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a)of this section.