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S. 4374119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Apr 22, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
The Air Force must keep at least 1,800 fighter jets and can expand its F-15EX fleet from 129 to 329 planes.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
This bill lets the Defense Department sign multi-year contracts to buy F-35 and F-15EX fighter jets and purchase key parts in bulk ahead of time. It sets a legal minimum of 1,800 total Air Force fighters from 2026 to 2035, with specific combat-ready targets by 2030 and 2035. It also allows the F-15EX fleet to grow from 129 to 329 planes, but any jets beyond the first 129 must replace older F-15E aircraft already in service.
The Air Force is directly affected, along with defense contractors and suppliers who build these aircraft and components. U.S. military readiness more broadly is also at stake.
Setting fleet minimums in law means the Air Force must maintain a certain size regardless of future budget or policy decisions. Allowing bulk purchases and multi-year contracts changes how and when the government spends money on these aircraft.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.