US Air Force Needs 500 Next-Gen Fighters and Bombers to Counter China
A new think tank analysis concludes that the US Air Force needs to acquire roughly 500 next-generation fighters and bombers to maintain a decisive military edge over China. The recommendation underscores deepening concerns within the defense community about the rapid pace of Chinese military modernization and its implications for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
The report calls for significant investment in advanced combat aircraft, including next-generation air dominance platforms and stealth bombers, to replace aging fleets that may be increasingly vulnerable to Chinese air defenses and advanced fighters. The assessment adds urgency to ongoing debates about defense spending priorities and the ability of the US defense industrial base to produce advanced aircraft at the scale and speed required to meet the threat.
The report calls for significant investment in advanced combat aircraft, including next-generation air dominance platforms and stealth bombers, to replace aging fleets that may be increasingly vulnerable to Chinese air defenses and advanced fighters. The assessment adds urgency to ongoing debates about defense spending priorities and the ability of the US defense industrial base to produce advanced aircraft at the scale and speed required to meet the threat.