F-35 Lightning II, CH-53K King Stallion, MQ-4C Triton and MQ-9A Reaper - US Navy requests $17.3bn for dozens of fighters, drones and helicopters

By: Maksim Panasovskyi | 14.03.2023, 19:56

The US Navy, along with the Air Force, has also submitted a request to Congress for funding for the procurement of aircraft, helicopters and drones. The service wants more than $17bn to achieve the goal.

Here's What We Know

The draft budget for fiscal year 2024 calls for $17.3 billion to purchase several dozen aircraft, including 31 fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. You can read more about the request below:

15 F-35C fighters for the US Navy;
16 F-35B fighters for the US Marine Corps;
3 MQ-25A Stingray unmanned refueling drones for the US Navy;
2 MQ-4C Triton drones for the US Navy;
5 MQ-9A Reaper drones for the US Marine Corps;
15 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the US Marine Corps;
2 KC-130J Hercules air tankers for the US Marine Corps;
14 METS training platforms for the US Navy;
12 METS training platforms for the US Marine Corps.

It should be noted that the US Navy initially planned to purchase four MQ-25A drones. The service also wants to order four drones in fiscal 2025-2027 and seven UAVs in fiscal 2028. The MQ-4C purchase will be the last, although the US Navy had planned to order five more drones in fiscal 2025. The five MQ-9A UAVs will be the last for the US Marine Corps.

Source: Defence News