# 119-s-4374: Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026

119-s-4374, Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC); status introduced (as of 2026-05-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4374
- As of: 2026-05-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4374
- Congress: 119
- Title: Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-22
- Sponsor: Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-05-15

## Summary

**Authorizes multiyear contracts to buy F-35 and F-15EX aircraft.** It also sets new Air Force fighter inventory floors and allows a large F-15EX fleet increase with a recapitalization condition.

## Cosponsors (7)

- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO] (R-MO), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] (R-MT), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (R-ND), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Increase F-15EX fleet size: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary of the Air Force increase the F-15EX fleet from 129 to 329 aircraft. If enacted, any F-15EX bought after the first 129 would have to be used only to recapitalize the Air Force's F-15E fleet. If enacted, this authority would take effect upon enactment and…
- Minimum Air Force fighter inventory: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would require the Air Force to keep at least 1,800 fighter aircraft from October 1, 2026 through October 1, 2035. If enacted, it would also require at least 1,369 combat-coded fighter aircraft by December 31, 2030, and at least 1,558 by December 31, 2035. The bill defines which…
- Multiyear contracts for F-35 and F-15EX: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary of Defense enter into one or more multiyear contracts to buy F-35A, F-35B, F-35C, and F-15EX aircraft, subject to 10 U.S.C. 3501 as modified by the bill. If enacted, it would also allow advance purchases of key components in economic order quantities and…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-s-1547: America the Beautiful Act
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.

## Sources
- [119-s-4374 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4374)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1816)
- [119-s-1547: America the Beautiful Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1547)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4374 (as of 2026-05-15).