Legislation would update fighter forces at bases in 22 states and D.C., including Buckley Space Force Base
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Mike Crapo led fifteen of their colleagues in reintroducing their bipartisan Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act. The legislation preserves military readiness by preventing the closure of Air National Guard (ANG) fighter squadrons, like the 140th at Buckley Space Force Base, at a time when pilot and maintenance manning are at critically low levels.
“A strategy for the future of our Air National Guard fighter fleet strengthens our national security,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan bill directs the Air Force to update all National Guard fighter squadrons, including the Buckley-based 140th Wing, in order to preserve their flying missions and retain their experienced pilots.”
“Highly-trained, experienced and prepared forces are a key component of our country’s national defense,” said Crapo. “Closures of fighter squadrons within the U.S. Air Force’s Reserve component mean a permanent loss of these experienced pilot and maintainers. We must preserve and protect National Guard fighter squadrons, like the Idaho Air National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron, from force reductions that could harm our national security. This is a critical priority as we continue to face threats from foreign adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.”
Since 1987, the Air Force fighter fleet has been reduced by 60 percent. The ANG represents 51 percent of the Air Force’s service-retained fighter force and is responsible for 94 percent of homeland defense missions. Currently, the Air Force is moving to divest many of the ANG legacy equipment, including older F-16s, A-10s, and F-15Cs without a plan to recapitalize them with advanced aircraft. Removing these aircraft without backfilling the force would put ANG squadrons at a loss during a time of heightened international conflict. This legislation will ensure the Air Force maintains 25 ANG fighter squadrons across 22 states and D.C., ready to protect Americans at home and abroad.
Hickenlooper and Crapo previously introduced the bill in the 118th Congress and successfully secured partial bill passage in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense policy bill passed by Congress. Last year, Hickenlooper also led 47 other members of Congress on a letter to the Air Force Secretary calling for “Fleet Leveling” to preserve the Air National Guard’s fighter capability.
“Air National Guard fighter wings operate at 1/3rd the cost of their active-duty counterparts but still provide the same ‘fight-tonight’ capability,” said Major General Laura Clellan, Adjutant General of Colorado. “By acting as a retention net for talent exiting active duty and serving as a cost-effective model to both develop and retain fighter pilots, the Air National Guard presents the nation with an unrivaled value proposition. Throw in the secondary uses of Air Guardsman domestically such as wildfire mitigation, homeland airspace defense, and manpower for civil support all for a fraction of the cost of an active-duty Wing; the Air Guard’s value proposition truly is unparalleled. By providing 30% of the fighter force, for 1/3rd the cost, Air National Guard fighter wings operate as a shining example of efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars. It’s simple, we provide more for less, without sacrificing capability.”
“Our ability to fight and win the wars of the future will require robust combat air power,” said Major General Francis McGinn (Ret.), National Guard Association of the United States President. “The Air National Guard is a critical part of that equation, making up 30 percent of USAF combat air power with only 7 percent of the total Air Force budget. The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act will ensure the Air National Guard, the USAF reserve, and the active component have the modernized fleet they need to deter and deny our enemies. I thank Sen. Crapo, Sen. Hickenlooper, and their colleagues for their continued support of our the National Guard community.”
The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act is supported by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (ENAUGUS).
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
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