Iran War and U.S. Defense Budget

National Guard generals told Congress that the Air Force is the smallest and least ready in its history and urged a big fighter buy. Their plea, reported by Fox News, came during recent congressional testimony as leaders warned current forces cannot meet growing global and homeland defense demands. Guard leaders pointed to a reduced active aircraft inventory of about 5,004 planes and an average aircraft age of roughly 41.4 years, which they said undercuts sustained combat readiness. They also cited falling mission-capable rates, which slid to about 62% in fiscal year 2024, and urged a large annual fighter buy to restore margins.