U.S. Air Force will spend $6.4 billion to buy F-35A Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II fighters

By: Maksim Panasovskiy | 23.12.2022, 23:08

We wrote about how the U.S. Air Force will spend $1.3 billion in fiscal 2023 to purchase the first next-generation strategic bomber, the B-21 Raider. But the purchases won't stop there.

Here's What We Know

The defense budget includes more than $216 billion for the U.S. Air Force. $54 million of this amount is earmarked for the purchase of new helicopters and aircraft. In particular, the F-35A Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II fighters.

The U.S. Air Force will be able to buy nearly four dozen fifth-generation F-35A from Lockheed Martin. Almost half as much money - $2.3 billion - is earmarked for the purchase of the F-15EX.

Boeing expects to get $2.5 billion for its KC-46 Pegasus air tankers, which are supposed to replace the outdated KC-135 Stratotanker. Lockheed Martin will supply the U.S. Air Force National Guard with 16 C-130 Hercules transport planes, which will form two squadrons. The cost will be $1.6 billion.

And to conclude, let's talk about less high-profile deals. In particular, $884 million will be spent on the purchase of four EC-37B electronic warfare aircraft, and $1.2 billion - on the purchase of Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters. Another $200 million will be invested in the development of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail long-range radar detection aircraft.