Report on causes and effects of declining aircraft readiness rates

(a) Report required Not later than May 31, 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the declining rates of aircraft readiness within the fleet of the Air Force (with an emphasis on fighter aircraft within such fleet) and factors contributing to that decline. Such report shall include, with respect to such aircraft, the following: (1) A review of mission capability rates over the five fiscal years preceding the date of the submission of the report, including an assessment of key factors contributing to any decline in such rates, such as maintenance backlogs, shortages in aircraft parts, or depot capacity constraints. (2) An analysis of the manner and extent to which reductions to the flying hours program of the Air Force or gaps in funding for weapon system sustainment activities may have contributed to lower sortie generation, increased aircraft downtime, and declining rates of aircraft readiness in general. (3) An assessment of how personnel and units of the Air Force communicate aircraft status for operations and maintenance purposes, including any discrepancies between pilot debriefs, maintenance write-ups, and data recorded in the Defense Readiness Reporting System of the Department of Defense. (4) An assessment of how high-tempo rotational deployments strain the availability of aircraft, accelerate the degradation of aircraft, and affect the long-term readiness of the fleet. (5) An analysis of how low rates of aircraft readiness negatively affect the training and readiness of new fighter pilots, including by limiting training opportunities, reducing instructor availability, and generating operational shortfalls. (6) Proposed actions to reverse the declining rates of aircraft readiness, improve the effectiveness of aircraft sustainment, and ensure more accurate readiness reporting, including any recommendations for relevant legislative actions. (b) Form The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(a) Report required Not later than May 31, 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the declining rates of aircraft readiness within the fleet of the Air Force (with an emphasis on fighter aircraft within such fleet) and factors contributing to that decline. Such report shall include, with respect to such aircraft, the following: (1) A review of mission capability rates over the five fiscal years preceding the date of the submission of the report, including an assessment of key factors contributing to any decline in such rates, such as maintenance backlogs, shortages in aircraft parts, or depot capacity constraints. (2) An analysis of the manner and extent to which reductions to the flying hours program of the Air Force or gaps in funding for weapon system sustainment activities may have contributed to lower sortie generation, increased aircraft downtime, and declining rates of aircraft readiness in general. (3) An assessment of how personnel and units of the Air Force communicate aircraft status for operations and maintenance purposes, including any discrepancies between pilot debriefs, maintenance write-ups, and data recorded in the Defense Readiness Reporting System of the Department of Defense. (4) An assessment of how high-tempo rotational deployments strain the availability of aircraft, accelerate the degradation of aircraft, and affect the long-term readiness of the fleet. (5) An analysis of how low rates of aircraft readiness negatively affect the training and readiness of new fighter pilots, including by limiting training opportunities, reducing instructor availability, and generating operational shortfalls. (6) Proposed actions to reverse the declining rates of aircraft readiness, improve the effectiveness of aircraft sustainment, and ensure more accurate readiness reporting, including any recommendations for relevant legislative actions. (b) Form The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.