Many of the existing warplanes in the US military inventory are facing a “capability gap,” the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has concluded.
In a report published late last year, the government’s investigative arm revealed that seven of eight studies found that some American tactical aircraft did not have the capabilities needed to compete in future combat scenarios.
It also pointed out that the US Navy had a strike fighter “shortfall” of 39 aircraft in 2022, and that it will continue to face the problem until 2031.
Additionally, the GAO warned that the US Department of Defense is spending too much money on duplicate or redundant efforts, leaving other critical goals unmet.
The study results reportedly point to one common problem: a capability gap in the military’s tactical aerial capabilities.
“Most of the military’s existing tactical aircraft first entered service in the 1970s and 1980s and have exceeded their original service lives,” GAO official Marie Mak told Stars and Stripes.
“I think right now, the older aircraft that we have are very capable and possibly will be doing just fine in many of the current world scenarios. Where we’re more focused is more of the high-end, near-peer type scenarios DoD expects to face in the future.”
Recommendations
The GAO report suggests that the US armed forces invests in advanced technologies to address future needs.
It must also modernize its tactical aircraft fleet to continue providing air-to-air, air-to-ground, and electronic warfare capabilities vital to combat operations and defense.
On a more technical note, the office recommends the US military conduct an integrated acquisition analysis of all fixed-wing tactical aircraft in its inventory.
Later on, the analysis must be provided to the US Congress for further evaluation and action.
