Says It Is About 500 Short Of Its Force Requirement

The U.S. Air Force is about 500 pilots below what it considers a minimum number of fighter pilots, a number that is expected to grow to about 800 by 2020, according to Air Force officials.

Defense News reports the officials said the shortage was caused by a recent reduction in active duty fighter and fighter training squadrons resulting from budget cuts, according to written testimony presented to a Senate Armed Services subcommittee last week.

The squadrons that remain do not provide enough experienced fighter pilots to meet Air Force requirements, officials said. "Without these fighter pilots, the Air Force will be very challenged to continue to provide the air supremacy upon which all our other forces depend," the statement said.

In 2012, the Air Force cut 100 aircraft.

Lt. Gen. John Raymond, deputy chief of staff, said at the committee hearing that the service is having difficulty attracting pilots that are going to commercial airlines.

Lt. Gen. Mike Holmes, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, told the subcommittee that the Air Force is focusing on retention of existing fighter pilots using bonuses and other incentives. He also said that the Air Force would make an effort to "absorb" pilots into the Reserve or the Air National Guard "so that we can hold on to that expertise."

(Image from file)

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