US lawmakers are proposing new multiyear procurement authority for the Lockheed Martin F-35 and Boeing F-15EX fighter jets as part of the draft fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), according to a report by Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The proposal would allow the Pentagon to sign contracts covering up to five years for both aircraft instead of continuing annual purchases, a change supporters say could reduce costs and stabilize production planning.
The measure was included in the first draft of the defense policy bill released by the House Armed Services Committee on May 26 and incorporates provisions previously introduced in the Senate under the Airpower Acceleration Act.
The F-35 is the United States’ main fifth-generation fighter program and is also operated or ordered by multiple allied nations across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The aircraft is designed for stealth operations, sensor fusion and network-centric warfare.
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The F-15EX Eagle II, meanwhile, is an updated version of the long-running F-15 family intended to replace aging F-15C/D fighters in the US Air Force. Unlike the stealth-oriented F-35, the F-15EX emphasizes payload capacity, range and compatibility with existing infrastructure.
According to the Congressional Research Service, multiyear procurement contracts can reduce military acquisition costs by between 5% and 15% by allowing manufacturers to better plan investments, supply chains and production rates.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink supported the proposal during a Senate hearing on May 21, particularly regarding the F-15EX program.
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Meink said annual procurement uncertainty had limited Boeing’s ability to invest in production improvements and manufacturing efficiency for the aircraft. The draft bill would also authorize the Pentagon to buy larger quantities of F-35 materials and components in advance when doing so could lower costs.
In addition, lawmakers proposed adding US$300 million for F-35A spare parts, more than doubling the US Air Force’s original request of US$269 million.
The legislation also increases oversight of the F-35 program through new reporting requirements linked to sustainment costs, software modernization and technical data rights.
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One provision would require the Pentagon to address recommendations issued by the Government Accountability Office dating back to 2014, including revised cost estimates for the Block 4 modernization effort and updated sustainment strategies.
Lawmakers are also requesting a report on the F-35’s future Power Thermal Management System upgrade, considered necessary to support the aircraft’s growing cooling and electrical power demands tied to Block 4 capabilities.
The procurement push comes as the US Air Force simultaneously advances development of the F-47, the future sixth-generation fighter selected under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. However, the aircraft is not expected to enter operational service until the next decade, meaning the F-35 and F-15EX are expected to remain central elements of US tactical airpower for years to come.
