Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026

This bill would allow the Secretary of Defense to sign multiyear contracts to buy F-35A, F-35B, F-35C, and F-15EX fighter jets, and to buy key parts for these jets in advance in bulk. The Secretary would have to report preliminary findings on these contracts to Congress within 90 days. Starting October 1, 2026, the Air Force would have to keep at least 1,800 fighter aircraft through October 1, 2035, and reach set numbers of combat-coded fighters by 2030 and 2035. The bill would also allow the Air Force to grow its F-15EX fleet from 129 to 329 aircraft, with the extra jets used only to replace its F-15E fleet.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ted Budd Republican sponsor
• 7 cosponsors