Why Warplane Sortie Generation Rate Is the One Key Performance Parameter to Rule Them All!

Much less discussed among warplane enthusiasts is what’s arguably the single most important characteristic for a warplane: its sortie generation rate.

U.S. Navy’s F-35C stealth fighter jet and crew prepare ready for a takeoff for a flight demonstration during the Annualex 23 joint naval exercise, from aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson off the Japanese coast, on Nov. 11, 2023. Mari Yamaguchi/AP Photo

Commentary

“It isn’t how many airplanes you have. It’s how many you can put in the air, what they can do, and how long you can keep them flying.” — Robert S. Dudney, former senior editor, Air Force Magazine.