U.S. Air Force Fighter Pilot Sorties Plunge to One Per Month, Report Finds
U.S. Air Force fighter pilots fly only one sortie monthly, down from 5.5 in 2023, severely impacting combat readiness according to the Mitchell Institute.
A senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies reported that U.S. Air Force fighter pilots are failing to complete the required monthly sorties needed for combat readiness, with figures dropping from approximately 5.5 sorties per month in fiscal year 2023 to just one sortie today, according to Military Times.
Speaking at a roundtable event hosted by the Mitchell Institute, John Venable noted that the Air Force stopped publishing sortie data after 2023, when pilots flew about 5.5 sorties monthly—roughly 60% of the required amount. Venable also highlighted that the official pilot shortage stands at 2,000, though unofficial data suggests the number has climbed to approximately 2,400.
Impact on Operational Readiness
Frank Kendall, the former secretary of the Air Force under the Biden administration, shifted funding designated for 6,000 aviation maintenance positions toward other priorities in fiscal year 2025, a move Venable said severely worsened operational readiness.
Venable contrasted the U.S. situation with Israeli capabilities, pointing out that Israeli pilots fly 20 sorties per month and accumulate between 25 and 30 flight hours.
"If you look at the overall picture schematically, 325 fighter aircraft designated for combat missions is half the amount we had available in Desert Storm, and that is roughly all the force we are able to muster today," Venable said.
