The U.S. Air Force is looking to boost the readiness rates of its F-22, F-35 and F-16 aircraft squadrons, according to a recently submitted plan, Defense News reported Saturday. These squadrons are currently at readiness levels below Secretary of Defense James Mattis’ required rate of 80 percent.
Heather Wilson, secretary of the Air Force, discussed the plan in an interview at the Airlift Tanker Association’s annual symposium which took place in Grapevine, Texas. She said that the plan entails maintenance staffing, spare parts allotment and logistics efforts across the service branch.
The plan also includes efforts to augment some units within the Air National Guard.
“That includes plussing up our supply accounts, that includes making sure that we prioritize our maintainers for those particular fighter units,†Wilson told Defense News.
“That will mean shifting some money around in our budget, but we’ve put a plan together to do that.”
