Enhanced Fighter Readiness Achieved by One Fleet: F/A-18, Despite Previous U.S. Air Force and Navy Directives
Unleashing the Might: Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornets vs Air Force's F-16 Falcons
Five years on, the Navy remains steadfast in keeping its fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornets at an 80 percent readiness level, a mandate set by Former Defense Secretary James Mattis way back in 2016. The Air Force, meanwhile, has veered off course, grappling with faltering fighter readiness.
Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti addressed this subject at the Stimson Center at a Dec. 3 event, emphasizing the Navy's limited resources. "We can't just throw more money and people at the problem," Franchetti admitted, referring to the challenge posed by Mattis' order for the Air Force and Navy to hike their fighters' readiness levels, with the F/A-18 and F-16 as the primary focus.
Franchetti's aviation command tackled this challenge head-on, unearthing the root cause and devising solutions. The Navy successfully improved the F/A-18's readiness rate, largely through swift database maintenance, proactive maintenance strategies, and streamlined logistics and parts supply operations.
In stark contrast, the Air Force jettisoned the 80 percent readiness benchmark in 2020. The Air Force cited distinct challenges compared to the Navy and dismissed traditional mission capable rate metrics, as they fell short of measuring true readiness. For instance, the F-16's mission capability rate clocked in at 69 percent for the fiscal year 2023 - a figure significantly lower than the Navy's standard. However, it's worth noting that the Air Force has been incorporating several of the same practices the Navy used to elevate the F/A-18's availability.
It's essential to note that the definitions of aircraft readiness differ between the two services. The Air Force categorizes aircraft as mission capable if they can perform some assigned tasks, while the Navy reserves this label for those able to complete all assigned missions.
Broadly, the Navy strives to have 80 percent of its forces “surge ready” by 2027, a time when Chinese President Xi Jin Ping has directed his forces to be prepared for an invasion of Taiwan. Franchetti is dedicated to ensuring that the Navy's forces can swiftly enter and leave maintenance as needed, guaranteeing they are always ready for duty.
Despite the challenging landscape, Franchetti tested a plan focusing on 33 focus areas, including integrating robotic and autonomous systems, reinvesting in people and training, and modernizing her Maritime Operations Centers. "Another one is integrating robotic and autonomous systems. We have a lot of different experimentation going on, but how do we bring that capability and that mindset into our regular formations?" Franchetti pondered.
Like her counterpart, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin of the Air Force, Franchetti recognizes that the character of war is evolving rapidly, emphasizing the critical need for interdependent capabilities to thrive in the ever-changing joint warfighting ecosystem. The significance of readiness, streamlined maintenance, and strategic resource allocation cannot be overstated in the lead-up to 2027, a crucial juncture in the Navy's evolution and preparedness.
- The aviation industry and finance sectors closely observe the policy-and-legislation developments regarding the defense spending division between the Navy and Air Force, particularly concerning their aircraft readiness levels.
- Amidst the looming threats from the Chinese military, the aviation sector, including the air force, is investing in transportation systems, such as drones and other autonomous technology, for enhanced general-news reporting and rapid response operations.
- The growing use of drones in the aviation and defense industries poses new challenges and opportunities, requiring robust regulations and strategic resource allocation to ensure operational safety and effectiveness.
- In the world of politics, the ongoing debate surrounding the F/A-18 Super Hornets vs Air Force's F-16 Falcons grapples with issues of aviation policy, airforce readiness, and transportation modernization.
- Space exploration is another growing field linked to the aviation industry, as non-traditional companies, like SpaceX, are increasingly collaborating with traditional players to develop advanced propulsion systems and transport technologies.
- The future of aviation and defense is not limited to traditional aircraft and tactical strategies; it extends to the deployment of drones, spacecraft, and a focus on interdependent capabilities to thrive in the complex, joint warfighting landscape of the 21st century.
