At the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Air Force Secretary Troy Meink stressed the need for the service to direct its limited maintenance resources toward aircraft that can survive in contested environments.
He identified declining readiness as one of the most pressing challenges facing the force.
Readiness Challenges
Meink admitted that the scope of the readiness problem was greater than he anticipated. The Air Force’s mission-capable rate in fiscal 2024 dropped to 62%, meaning nearly four in ten aircraft were unable to perform their missions on a given day.
Additionally, aircraft availability has plummeted from 73% in 1994 to just 54% in 2024, according to Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.
One major driver of this trend is the aging fleet. Over the past three decades, the average aircraft age has nearly doubled — from 17 years in the early 1990s to nearly 32 years today.
Case Study: F-22s at Langley
Meink pointed to Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, home of the F-22 Raptor, as a clear example of the problem. Despite being a top-tier platform, many F-22s sit idle due to a lack of available parts. “That’s a problem,” Meink said. “We have to fix that.”
Budget and Maintenance Priorities
The secretary noted that maintenance and sustainment costs have been a major burden over the last 15 years. While lawmakers and Pentagon leadership are working to expand the budget, Meink emphasized the importance of efficiency and prioritization.
He argued that platforms not survivable in contested environments should not receive disproportionate resources. As older aircraft are retired, maintainers and resources can be shifted to systems critical for future warfare.
Lessons from Modern Conflicts
Meink highlighted lessons from Ukraine, where low-cost modified quadcopters have successfully destroyed far more expensive Russian drones. This example illustrates how the U.S. must adapt to a new era of asymmetric air warfare.
Holding Contractors Accountable
Another priority for Meink is ensuring contractor accountability. He criticized instances where parts advertised to last 400 hours fail after only 100. Improving reliability and serviceability of weapon systems, he argued, will require stronger oversight and smarter investments.
Supply Chain and Future Maintenance Innovations
William Bailey, performing the duties of assistant secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics, pointed to the increasing modularity of new aircraft designs as a way to simplify maintenance and replacement.
Bailey also announced that the acquisition community will conduct a deep dive into supply chains to identify bottlenecks hindering spare part delivery.
Meink added that the Air Force must leverage advanced data analytics to gain clearer insights into the health and performance of its weapon systems.
Facing declining readiness rates, aging fleets, and budgetary pressures, the Air Force is shifting its focus toward combat-capable platforms, efficient sustainment, and greater contractor accountability.
With reforms in maintenance practices, supply chain management, and data-driven oversight, the service hopes to strengthen its ability to operate in future contested environments.
