Aerospace Group:

Air Force

Appropriations Conferees Add Three F-35As, Prohibit Alternate Engine for F-35

Frank Wolfe

Thursday, March 21st, 2024

SHARE:

Appropriations Conferees Add Three F-35As, Prohibit Alternate Engine for F-35

Pictured is an F-35A Lightning II from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah on Feb. 22 (U.S. Air Force Photo)

A House-Senate fiscal 2024 appropriations conference agreement says that it would add $277 million for three U.S. Air Force F-35A fighters by Lockheed Martin [LMT]. The agreement would thus raise the service's Lightning II buy from 48 planes this fiscal year to 51 for a total cost of $5.2 billion. In addition to the $277 million for three more F-35As, congressional appropriators said that they added almost $104 million to Air Force F-35A procurement for "unit cost shortfalls" and $83…

Pentagon

Hegseth Acknowledges Potential $200 Billion Iran Supplemental Request, Final Figure ‘Could Move’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday acknowledged the Pentagon could potentially ask Congress for $200 billion in supplemental funding to support the ongoing operation against Iran and replenish munitions used […]

Congress

Counter-Drone Flyaway Kit Used In U.S. In Early Hours Of Iran Strikes, NORTHCOM Head Says

U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) used a counter small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) flyaway kit (FAK) in the early hours of the strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, according to Air […]

Army

Army Taking ‘More Refined’ Approach On Push For Right To Repair Reforms, Obadal Says

After lawmakers decided against including major “right to repair” reforms in the latest defense policy bill, a senior Army official has said the service is continuing its push for authorities […]

Unmanned Systems

Counter-Drone Needs Will Be Addressed In Next NDAA Based On Iran War Lessons, Banks Says

A Republican senator on Armed Services Committee on Thursday said that defending against Iranian drones has been challenge for U.S. warfighters and will be an area of focus in the […]