What will the US Air Force look like in 2030 (barring a major war or significant change in planning)? The US Air Force will certainly be smaller, have many more unmanned systems, and be much more technologically advanced. Predicting the future is something of a fool’s errand, but the trends in the Air Force are clear. By 2030, 4.5th and 5th generation combat aircraft will make up a much larger percentage of the overall fleet.