Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026

This bill grants the Secretary of Defense authority to enter into multiyear contracts for the procurement of F-35A, F-35B, F-35C, and F-15EX aircraft, streamlining the acquisition process and including provisions for advance procurement of key components. The Secretary must submit a report to Congress within 90 days detailing preliminary findings for these contracts, and Congress emphasizes the importance of prompt payments to subcontractors to strengthen the defense industrial base.

The legislation significantly modifies the Air Force's fighter aircraft inventory requirements, mandating a total aircraft inventory of not less than 1,800 fighter aircraft between October 2026 and October 2035, with specific minimums for combat-coded fighter aircraft of at least 1,369 by December 2030 and 1,558 by December 2035.

Finally, the bill authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to increase the F-15EX aircraft fleet size from 129 to 329 aircraft. This expansion is specifically conditioned on using any F-15EX aircraft procured beyond the initial 129 exclusively for recapitalizing the F-15E aircraft fleet.