
Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the House Armed Services Committee's tactical air and land forces panel, asked U.S. Air Force officials on Apr. 27 why the service's fiscal 2023 budget request indicates a significant acceleration in the planned retirement of fighter aircraft over the next five years. The future years defense plan (FYDP) through fiscal 2027 divests 646 fighters, while only buying 246, and includes a complete retirement of…