- Following the Air Force's mandatory inspections on all 157 of its F-16 D-model jets this week, 82 of the fighters are still grounded due to cracks between the front and rear pilot seats.
- The aging fleet of Cold War-era fighter jets underscores the U.S. Air Force's need for new equipment, say analysts.
- Incidents like these are expected increase in coming years, due to the relatively slow pace at which the military is buying F-35 fighter jets which will replace the F-16s.
- The F-35 program is facing its own set of issues, including funding, the delay of software testing and flight restrictions due to June's engine fire.