The operational readiness of the United States Air Force (USAF) has reached a historic low of 62%, revealing significant challenges within the fleet. In 2024, only slightly more than six out of ten aircraft were capable of fulfilling their missions on any given day, indicating an alarming trend linked to the aging fleet of 5,025 aircraft—the lowest count in the USAF’s 78-year history. This decline means approximately 1,900 aircraft are out of service at any moment. The predominant aircraft affected include the C-17 Globemaster, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. Heather Penny, a former F-16 pilot and senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, noted that without substantial modernization efforts, the situation is expected to worsen in 2025. Compounded by the recent Pentagon decision to pause all military aid deliveries to Ukraine, these factors underscore a precarious state for USAF readiness and its longer-term operational capabilities.
