INVENTORY REQUIREMENT FOR AIR FORCE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.

SEC. 131. INVENTORY REQUIREMENT FOR AIR FORCE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.(a) Inventory Requirement.—Section 8062 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(i)(1) During the period beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on October 1, 2022, the Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain a total aircraft inventory of fighter aircraft of not less than 1,970 aircraft, and a total primary mission aircraft inventory (combat-coded) of not less than 1,145 fighter aircraft.“(2) In this subsection:“(A) The term ‘fighter aircraft’ means an aircraft that—“(i) is designated by a mission design series prefix of F– or A–;“(ii) is manned by one or two crewmembers; and“(iii) executes single-role or multi-role missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground attack, air interdiction, suppression or destruction of enemy air defenses, close air support, strike control and reconnaissance, combat search and rescue support, or airborne forward air control.“(B) The term ‘primary mission aircraft inventory’ means aircraft assigned to meet the primary aircraft authorization to a unit for the performance of its wartime mission.”.(b) Limitation on Retirement of Air Force Fighter Aircraft.—(1) Limitation.—Except as provided in subsection (c), during the period beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on October 1, 2022, the Secretary of the Air Force may not proceed with a decision to retire fighter aircraft in any number that would reduce the total number of such aircraft in the 131 STAT. 1315 Air Force total active inventory below 1,970, and shall maintain a minimum of 1,145 fighter aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory.(2) Additional limitations on retirement of fighter aircraft.—Except as provided in subsection (c), during the period beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on October 1, 2022, the Secretary of the Air Force may not retire fighter aircraft from the total active inventory as of the date of the enactment of this Act until the later of the following:(A) The date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the report required under paragraph (3).(B) The date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that—(i) the retirement of such fighter aircraft will not increase the operational risk of meeting the National Defense Strategy; and(ii) the retirement of such aircraft will not reduce the total fighter force structure below 1,970 fighter aircraft or the primary mission aircraft inventory below 1,145.(3) Report on retirement of aircraft.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the following:(A) The rationale for the retirement of existing fighter aircraft and an operational analysis of the portfolio of capabilities of the Air Force that demonstrates performance of the designated mission at an equal or greater level of effectiveness as the retiring aircraft.(B) An assessment of the implications for the Air Force, the Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve of the force mix ratio of fighter aircraft.(C) Such other matters relating to the retirement of fighter aircraft as the Secretary considers appropriate.(c) Exception for Certain Aircraft.—The requirement of subsection (b) does not apply to individual fighter aircraft that the Secretary of the Air Force determines, on a case-by-case basis, to be non-operational because of mishaps, other damage, or being uneconomical to repair.(d) Fighter Aircraft Defined.—In this section, the term “fighter aircraft” has the meaning given the term in subsection (i)(2)(A) of section 8062 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section.