Naval Strike Fighters

Congress has no greater responsibility than making sure that the men and women that it send into harm's way are provided with the best and safest equipment available. While the number of aircraft we have is an important issue, the performance and quality of those aircraft is just as important. Since 2009, the Department of the Navy has noticed a rise in hazard reports, known as HAZREPs, regarding the physiological episodes in the Navy's F/A-18 and EA-18G fleets. According to the Navy, physiological episodes occur when a pilot experiences a loss in performance related to insufficient oxygen, depressurization, or other factors present during the flight. Beyond that, the Department faces an aviation readiness challenge, which includes reduced strike fighter capacity available to support the tactical aviation force's operational and training requirements.