How the F-35A will dominate the US Air Force over the next 30 years

According to the US Air Force inventory projection over the next 3 decades, the force structure could get a lot more homogeneous, with only the F-35A, some F-15s, a handful of F-22s, and a new, as of yet undetermined of F-X fighter, patrolling the skies by 2046.

US Air Force force projection f-35a

Government Office of AccountabilityOf course, this projection represents the Air Force's planning, which is subject to legislative oversight. But still, the above graphic shows just how strongly the force feels about the F-35A dominating the skies, and the A-10 and F-16 exiting the picture sooner rather than later.

While such long range predictions as this demand to be taken with a grain of salt, it shows the supreme confidence the Air Force has in the F-35A. 

NOW WATCH: The F-35 has hit another snag — this time because it’s too stealthy

See Also:

• Here's when an F-15 is better than an F-22 or an F-35

• Here's why thermal imaging can't stop the F-22 or the F-35

• It's official — the US Air Force has no idea what it's doing trying to retire the A-10