
To accelerate the replacement of F-15C/Ds nearing the end of their service lives, the U.S. Air Force fiscal 2023 budget requests nearly $2.7 billion for 24 Boeing [BA] F-15EXs--double the number sought last year, while the service curtails its planned buy of Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35As from more than $5 billion sought for 48 planes in fiscal 2022 to about $4.5 billion for 33 F-35As in fiscal 2023. Air Force officials said in a pre-budget release briefing at the Pentagon…