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) [10 U.S.C. 8062 note] Report on Retirement of Aircraft.— (1) In general.—Beginning with fiscal year 2023, for any fiscal year in which the Secretary of the Air Force expects the total aircraft inventory of fighter aircraft of the Air Force or the total primary mission aircraft inventory of fighter aircraft of the Air Force to decrease below the levels specified in section 9062(i)(1) of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the following: (A) A detailed rationale for the retirement of existing fighter aircraft and a detailed 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 and how existing aircraft inventory levels and unit personnel levels for the active and reserve components are proposed to change during the fiscal year in which fighter aircraft will be retired. (C) A detailed assessment of the current operational risk and the operational risk that will be incurred for meeting— (i) the requirements of the National Defense Strategy and combatant commanders; and (ii) operational plans for major contingency operations and steady-state or rotational operations. (D) Such other matters relating to the retirement of fighter aircraft as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) Timing of report.—Each report required under paragraph (1) shall be included in the materials submitted in support of the budget of the President (as submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code) for the fiscal year in which applicable decrease in fighter aircraft inventory levels is expected to occur. (c) Fighter Aircraft Defined.—In this section, the term “fighter aircraft” has the meaning given the term in subsection (i)(2)(A) of section 9062 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section.