US needs more air power to avoid ‘bloodbath’ with China, general says

The US Air Force needs more air power to avoid a possible war with China, warns Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard G. Moore, the deputy chief of staff for plans and programs. He believes that the US urgently needs to obtain and maintain air superiority to prevent a catastrophic war similar to the one in Ukraine.

The Air Force plans to acquire 72 new fighter jets consisting of F-35 stealth fighters and the F-15EX, with 24 upgraded F-15s and 48 F-35s. Defense manufacturing constraints, however, could hamper the Air Force’s ability to purchase these planes. The F-15EX, manufactured by Boeing, is considered a “backbone fighter for the service,” partly due to its ability to carry hypersonic weapons.

Military leaders are faced with a dilemma regarding upgrading fighter jets or developing more advanced ones, as the upgrade will cost $3.5 billion and may take a decade just to start. Additionally, Lockheed Martin’s limited engineers would have to divert their focus to the upgrade and away from developing more advanced capabilities.

The effectiveness of the current fleet has also fallen short of the Air Force’s expectations, as only over half of the F-35 jet fleet is viewed as “mission capable.” The pilot shortage is a matter of concern as well. “Competition with airlines” poaching pilots is “more directly and more adversely impacting the joint force than that emanating from either Russia or China,” according to the top Marine Corps general.

The US Armed Forces should improve its military readiness, especially in air power, to be better equipped to defend itself against countries like China or other high-end adversaries, concludes Moore. “The reason the war in Ukraine is a war of attrition is because neither side has air superiority.”