Frontline Fighter Force First Act

The Frontline Fighter Force First Act is a bill that seeks to recognize the historical contributions of U.S. Air Force fighters and to require a prioritized, mandatory recapitalization of active-duty frontline and surge fighter forces. The core idea is to continue producing and procuring advanced capability fighters until every Air Combat Command Fighter Wing has replaced its legacy fighters with more capable aircraft—starting with units that deploy most—so that the frontline fleet remains highly mission-capable across current and next-generation platforms. To implement this, the bill defines which aircraft count as “advanced capability fighters,” requires the Air Force to pursue or modify contracts to buy them, and directs oversight: a Comptroller General (GAO) review of procurement challenges within a year, followed by a final report, and regular progress updates to Congress (beginning 180 days after the GAO report and annually thereafter). The bill emphasizes upgrading from legacy fighters (such as aging F-15Es) to aircraft like the F-16 Block 70/72, F-15EX, F-35, and other future advanced platforms, with sequencing tied to deployment rates of squadrons. Note: The text includes a reference to an “F-47,” which is not a current U.S. fighter; this appears to be a drafting/typographical issue in the bill’s definitions.