RECAPITALIZATION OF TACTICAL FIGHTER AIRCRAFT OF THE NAVY RESERVE.

SEC. 127. RECAPITALIZATION OF TACTICAL FIGHTER AIRCRAFT OF THE NAVY RESERVE. (a) In General.—The Secretary of the Navy shall ensure that all covered F–18 aircraft are— (1) provided only to the Navy Reserve; and (2) used to recapitalize and maintain, within the Navy Reserve, a threat representative adversary support capability that may be used in support of training activities of the Department of Defense. (b) Plan Required.—Not later than April 15, 2025, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the potential establishment of a deployable tactical fighter squadron capability in the Naval Reserve using the covered F–18 aircraft. The plan shall include— (1) a description of any funding and other resources needed to establish and maintain such capability; and (2) a proposed timeline for the implementation of such capability. (c) Covered F–18 Aircraft Defined.—In this section, the term “covered F–18 aircraft” means— (1) the eight F/A–18E/F Super Hornet aircraft procured using funds authorized and appropriated for the Navy during fiscal year 2023; or (2) in lieu of an aircraft described in paragraph (1), any Block II or newer F/A–18E/F tactical fighter aircraft that— (A) has a minimum of 2,000 flight hours of service-life remaining airframe flight time prior to the need for a required high flight-hour inspection and Service Life Modification process; and (B) is included in the Naval Aviation Master Aviation Plan and designated for the Navy Reserve. (d) Master Aviation Plan.—In conjunction with the activities required under this section, the Secretary of the Navy shall ensure that the Naval Aviation Master Aviation Plan remains up-to-date and relevant with respect to aviation units of the Navy Reserve.