The U.S. Air Force, having been previously blocked by Congress from retiring MQ-9 Reapers that are heavily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, is trying a different approach in the fiscal 2023 budget request released March 28.
The possibility of a “bridge tanker” competition to cover the gap between the end of the current KC-46 program and a future U.S. Air Force refueler is looking less likely as the service continues to refine its requirements for the future fleet.
Lockheed Martin F-35s being delivered today are cheaper to acquire than they’ve ever been—and even cost less than some competitors that are in some ways less capable.
Forty GOP members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee called for a 5% increase in the Pentagon’s budget in a March 23 letter to President Joe Biden, while the Democratic leader of the Senate panel is urging some patience and to wait for a new strategy.
The U.S. Air Force needs to update its operating locations around the globe to be able to surge and operate combat aircraft under duress. So the service is starting an in-depth review of how this will happen, and it might not be easy. Or cheap.
The U.S. is dramatically ramping up its military assistance to Ukraine after the country’s president made an emotional appeal to Congress, with the new package including unmanned aircraft for the first time and increased discussions with allies to send Russian-made air defense systems.
The U.S. Air Force will ask Congress for permission to retire fewer aircraft in fiscal 2023 than it did in its 2022 request, after lawmakers allowed the service to cut some platforms and appear ready to further bolster the Pentagon’s budget.
The U.S. Congress is moving forward with a government-wide spending bill that would provide $728.5 billion for the Defense Department in fiscal 2022, placing a priority on protection of the Indo-Pacific region, space capabilities and assistance for Ukraine.
The U.S. Army expects its costs for Future Vertical Lift programs to rise substantially over the next several years as the service down-selects its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft and Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft and moves into testing.
