The USAF has three core priorities for FY 2027, Gen. John Lamontagne said at the 2026 Air and Space Summit
These cover defense industrial base, modernization and aircraft readiness initiatives
Gen. Lamontagne warned inaction would continue declining aircraft readiness rates
The U.S. Air Force has a trio of priorities for its expected increase in funding in fiscal year 2027, covering defense industrial base, modernization and aircraft readiness initiatives, according to its No. 2 officer.
Gen. John Lamontagne, USAF vice chief of staff, told a packed ballroom during his keynote at Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on Thursday that the proposed Pentagon budget of $1.5 trillion, including $350 billion in separate reconciliation funding, would help the service toward raising weapon system sustainment from 83 percent in FY 2026 to 93 percent next fiscal year. This would include aircraft spare parts, sustainment and engineering and logistics support.
What Is the Air Force’s Focus for FY 2027?
The USAF’s focus is on flying and fixing aircraft as core functions of the service. It seeks to improve aircraft readiness, which has been affected as the average aircraft age has been growing, exceeding 30 years in FY 2024.
“If we don’t do anything, we should expect those trends to continue,” Lamontagne said. “We have an opportunity to do something about this.”
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Why Does the Air Force Need Sustainable and Predictable Funding From Congress?
Lamontagne described how sustainable and predictable funding from Congress would allow the
USAF to acquire weapons and platforms more effectively. For example, he elaborated that
vendors have been contracted for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs, at inconsistent rates over the last 20 years in a way that resembles the “business end of a buzz saw.”
Lamontagne said this inconsistency does not encourage investment by industry in expanded capacity. He continued supporting multi-year procurement authorities and stable funding as steps towards changing industry’s incentives to the nation’s benefit.
Why Does the Air Force Want Right to Repair?
The Air Force wants right-to-repair provisions, which Lamontagne said would help increase aircraft readiness and decrease costs. The service has access to data for many of its legacy systems, which allows its technicians and craftsmen to isolate problems and troubleshoot issues. But contractors often write favorable contracts to protect intellectual property, forcing the USAF to pay to repair systems.
Additional funding for weapon system sustainment and the flying hours program, which cover
aircraft consumables, as well as logistics and depot level maintenance support, would be critical to helping the service increase its aircraft readiness rates, Lamontagne explained.
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If we don’t do anything, we should expect those trends to continue. We have an opportunity to do something about this.
What Has the Air Force Accomplished in 2026?
It’s been a busy year for the USAF with the war in Iran, and both special operations and humanitarian efforts in Venezuela. Lamontagne discussed how the joint force integrated more than 150 aircraft located across the western hemisphere to come together in time and secrecy to perform an interdiction mission in Venezuela.
He also mentioned how the Pentagon deployed transport planes, helicopters and ships while providing Space Force satellite imagery to assist in the aftermath of two earthquakes in Venezuela.
“This is another great example of what your United States Air Force and the nation can do around the world,” Lamontagne said.
