
House and Senate negotiators unveiled a fiscal year 2017 omnibus appropriations bill May 1 that includes billions of dollars to buy dozens of fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft above the Pentagon’s budget request.The main defense section contains $8.2 billion to procure 74 F-35s for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, 11 jets and $1.25 billion above the request. It would give the Navy 14 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, 12 jets and $979 million above the request. Aircraft additions for…