USA Cuts Number of Fighters, Drones, and Ships Assigned to NATO Rapid-Response Forces

The US is reducing its contribution to the NATO Force Model, which determines exactly how many forces a member country can rapidly deploy to the front lines. Half of the aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers, a third of the F-16 and F-15E fighter jets, and all long-range reconnaissance drones will be removed from the planning.

This was reported by the publication Welt.

According to the publication, US officials have provided NATO with a classified document that, for the first time, specifically details which US military capabilities the US intends to remove from the Alliance’s planning.

The reductions are primarily intended to affect the NATO Force Model. This model determines how many and what types of troops a member state can provide to NATO for deployment to the front within 10 days, 10 to 30 days, and within a maximum of six months.

For example, the US will reduce the number of KC-135 and KC-46 tanker aircraft from 79 to 63. All 8 modern KC-46 tanker aircraft will be completely removed from the planning.

The number of available fighter jets will be significantly reduced: from 153 aircraft — 99 F-16s and 54 F-15Es — to 99 aircraft, including 63 F-16s and 36 F-15Es. One of the two bomber wings will be decommissioned.

In addition, the US plans to remove all long-range reconnaissance drones from its plans and reduce the number of MQ-9 reconnaissance and strike drones by nearly half.

One of the two carrier strike groups is to be withdrawn, as well as nearly half of the cruiser and destroyer units. Attack submarines are also being completely removed from the plan, and the number of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will be reduced from 26 to 15.

At the same time, NATO spokesperson and Director of the Strategic Communications Directorate Allison Hart is optimistic, stating that this change strengthens NATO’s defense plans by reducing excessive reliance on a single ally.

As the publication notes, the timeline within which Europe must agree on how and at what cost to close the gaps will likely also pose a challenge. For example, the Bundeswehr has eight maritime patrol aircraft, but not all of them would necessarily be offered to NATO, which is insufficient to compensate for the reduction in the US presence.

In late May, the Pentagon officially announced a reduction in the number of US brigade combat teams stationed in Europe from four to three. The department noted that this would bring the size of the US ground force on the European continent back to 2021 levels.

At the same time, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 prohibits reducing the number of US troops in Europe below 76,000 and requires consultations with NATO allies and a detailed analysis of security risks in the event of any plans to reduce the presence.