The F-16 Is The Only U.S. Air Force Fighter Able To Reach Readiness Goals

An F-16 Fighting Falcon after refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker, near Tucson, Arizona, April 8, 2015. US Air Force photo

Business Insider: Only one of the Air Force's fighter jets may be able to reach the readiness goal Mattis set a year ago

* Last year, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis ordered the military to raise mission-capable rates for four key tactical aircraft: the F-16, the Navy's F/A-18 Hornet, the F-22, and the F-35.
* Air Force Lt. Gen. Mark Kelly, deputy chief of staff for operations, said this week that only one of his branch's fighters that may reach the 80% mission-capable goal is the F-16.

The US Air Force won't meet the Pentagon's goal of boosting readiness across its fighter fleets before the fiscal year comes to a close this month, a top general said Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Mark Kelly, deputy chief of staff for operations, told audiences at the 2019 Defense News Conference that the only fighter that may make the 80% mission capable (MC) rate — a standard set by then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis last year to achieve better aircraft performance — is the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

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WNU Editor:At least one of the four made its goal.