Senate unlikely to allow retirements of F-22s

The Senate won't likely let the Air Force retire its older F-22 Raptor jets, according to documents for the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill released by the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday.

Despite Air Force officials’ claims to the contrary, the committee believes the 32 Block 20 aircraft the service had sought to retire could be used for pilot training.

Service officials said they are too different from the more modern jets, but the committee, in its report ahead of the full Senate vote on the policy bill, stated training with Block 20s would “reduce the demand for wear and tear on the F-22 Block 30/35 aircraft, reserving their useful life for potential conflicts.”

In a briefing with reporters last month, a committee staff member told reporters the panel would not allow the divestment because of a current legal requirement to keep the F-22s until at least FY-27.

The current Senate version of the bill would approve the Air Force's request to retire 42 A-10 aircraft.