primary mission aircraft inventory
(2) (A) The Secretary of the Navy shall maintain a total aircraft inventory of EA–18G aircraft of not less than 158 aircraft, of which not less than 126 aircraft shall be coded as primary mission aircraft inventory. (B) The Secretary of the Navy may reduce the number of EA–18G aircraft in the inventory of the Navy below the minimum number specified in subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines, on a case-by-case basis, that an aircraft is no longer mission capable and uneconomical to repair because of aircraft accidents or mishaps. (C) In this paragraph, the term “primary mission aircraft inventory” means aircraft assigned to meet the primary aircraft authorization— (i) to a unit for the performance of its wartime mission; (ii) to a training unit for technical and specialized training for crew personnel or leading to aircrew qualification; (iii) to a test unit for testing of the aircraft or its components for purposes of research, development, test, and evaluation, operational test and evaluation, or to support testing programs; or (iv) to meet requirements for missions not otherwise specified in clauses (i) through (iii).