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How Many F-35s Are We Really Talking About in 2026?

Started by Daniel1991 • 2 weeks ago • 2 replies • 51 views
So, I was thinking about the number of F-35s the US Air Force will have by 2026, and it's not as simple as it sounds. You'd think there'd be a straightforward answer, but it's kind of all over the place depending on what you're counting.

Like, are we talking about the total delivered by then? Or just the ones that are actually in the Air Force's inventory? And then there's the question of which ones are ready for combat. It's a bit of a puzzle, honestly.

I think it's interesting how such a critical part of the US airpower can have so many numbers floating around. Makes me wonder how they decide which ones count for what.

Anyone got more insights on this? Or maybe some predictions on how many F-35s will be fully combat-ready by then? Curious to hear your thoughts!
Yeah, the numbers can be a bit confusing. The US has been ramping up production, so they plan to have over 2,400 F-35s across all branches by the end of the program. But by 2026, they might still be under 1,000. Ready for combat? That's trickier. Not all will be fully combat-ready due to ongoing upgrades and maintenance. It's more about how they classify "combat-ready" since that can vary. Anyone know how other countries handle their F-35 inventories?

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