The Obama administration rolled out a proposed Fiscal Year 2016 defence budget of $585.3 billion on February 2. Nearly $50 billion would be spent on aircraft and related systems during the fiscal year, which begins in October.
Among the four services, the Air Force had the largest plus-up with some $16 billion more than the 2015 enacted level. Maj. Gen. James Martin, Air Force deputy assistant secretary of budget, said that is because the demand for what the service provides is growing.
“Air Force capabilities are in high demand right now. There are increased [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] capabilities. There are initiatives to increase space capabilities. Strengthening our nuclear enterprise is something we are putting a lot of investment in,” he said.
The overall request consists of a base budget of $534.3 billion and $50.9 billion for overseas contingency operations (OCO), including transition costs in Afghanistan and continuing operations against ISIL militants. The requested base budget represents an increase of $38.2 billion or 7.6 percent above the FY2015 enacted level; the requested OCO budget is $13.3 billion, or 21 percent, lower than the current enacted level.
For aircraft, the FY2016 request includes $10.6 billion to purchase 57 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters; $3.4 billion for 16 Boeing P-8 Poseidons; $3 billion for low-rate initial production of 12 Boeing KC-46A tankers; $1.2 billion for development of the long range strike bomber; $821 million for 29 General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers; and $548.8 million for three Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Tritons.
The $48.8 billion proposed spending on aircraft and related systems includes $19.7 billion for combat aircraft, $9 billion for cargo aircraft and $2.9 billion for unmanned aircraft systems.
Sources: AIN Online; National Defense