In its financial year 2017 budget submission, the Pentagon has cut aviation procurement by 7.2% to $45.3 billion, as against the $48.8 billion requested last year.
US Defense Department (DOD) officials said this lower funding level procures 8 fewer fixed-wing aircraft including 5 Lockheed Martin F-35As and three C-130Js for the US Air Force and 35 fewer rotorcraft for the Army and Navy than are afforded in the existing budget.
The budget does protect other high-priority air force procurements which include the Boeing KC-46A and Northrop Grumman Long-Range Strike Bomber.
According to DOD documents, the army cuts 24 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks and purchases nine fewer Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters than planned.
The navy has cut two Bell-Boeing V-22 Ospreys from its 2017 purchase account but has sought a further two F-35s and two Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace combat losses.
Submitted to Congress on 9 February, the total $582.7 billion spending plan would fund the US military through 30 September 2017. The amount conforms with a bipartisan budget deal that passed late in 2015 and is, hence, $17 billion below projected spending levels in last year's request.
Deputy secretary of defence Robert Work said while preparing the budget, the Pentagon focused on shape, not size and modernisation versus readiness for the current conflicts.
US Defense Department (DOD) officials said this lower funding level procures 8 fewer fixed-wing aircraft including 5 Lockheed Martin F-35As and three C-130Js for the US Air Force and 35 fewer rotorcraft for the Army and Navy than are afforded in the existing budget.
The budget does protect other high-priority air force procurements which include the Boeing KC-46A and Northrop Grumman Long-Range Strike Bomber.
According to DOD documents, the army cuts 24 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks and purchases nine fewer Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters than planned.
The navy has cut two Bell-Boeing V-22 Ospreys from its 2017 purchase account but has sought a further two F-35s and two Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace combat losses.
Submitted to Congress on 9 February, the total $582.7 billion spending plan would fund the US military through 30 September 2017. The amount conforms with a bipartisan budget deal that passed late in 2015 and is, hence, $17 billion below projected spending levels in last year's request.
Deputy secretary of defence Robert Work said while preparing the budget, the Pentagon focused on shape, not size and modernisation versus readiness for the current conflicts.