The Air Force is seeking a 24% increase in squadrons by 2030 to equip it to fight a peer adversary and win while also defending U.S. soil, serving as a nuclear deterrent, fight secondary wars against other that would use a major war to their advantage, and continue the fight against extremism. This push is in line with new Pentagon grand strategy that shifts focus away from counterterrorism and toward conflict between major powers. The 74-squadron increase would require an additional 40,000 airmen and supporting civilians, growing the total Air Force size to around 725,000 by 2030.
Source: Air Force calls for 74 more squadrons to prepare for possibility of war against major power
