The F15 Strike Eagle is the US's two-seater, ground attack version of its main tactical fighter plane.

BBC: News | In Depth | Military Fact Files

Currently, the Air Force maintains 16 tactical fighter wings, leaving a shortfall of four wings based on a two-MRC requirement for 20.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Section IV: Building a Two-MRC Force for the 21st Century

The Air Force has plans to cut six tactical fighter squadrons, retire 27 older C-5As and 65 C-130s, and divest itself of the entire fleet of 38 C-27s.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Section IV: Building a Two-MRC Force for the 21st Century

The Air Force would make do with 16 active and 12 reserve tactical fighter wings versus a Cold War structure of 24 active and 12 reserve fighter wings.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | The Measure of a Superpower: A Two Major Regional Contingency Military for the 21st Century | Page: 2

In theory, the Air Force has many hundreds of tactical aircraft like the F-15E fighter-bomber that might be used to prosecute an air campaign in the Western Pacific, but those planes have limited ranges and thus would be heavily dependent on aerial refueling.

FORBES: Air Force Wants A Bomber That Balances Cost With Capability

Although GE currently makes engines for several U.S. fighters, the future of the high-performance military engine business is the F-35 joint strike fighter, which will replace most of the tactical aircraft in the joint fleet over the next 30 years.

FORBES: Battle Over GE Engine Subsidy Reaches Climax