US Air Force to receive extra $1.6 billion for aircraft procurement and modernisation in FY2025
F–15EX Eagle II multirole strike fighters. (Photo: US Air Force)
US Congress has authorised an almost $21.5 billion investment in the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) aircraft acquisition and upgrading programmes in 2025. The amount is around $1.6 billion higher than the budget proposed by the branch.
The extra resources, included in the FY2025 National Defence Appropriations Act (NDAA), covered the procurement of additional F-15EX Eagle II multirole strike fighters and C–130J transport aircraft. The NDAA also increased funds for the modernisation of the F-15 fleet and the acceleration of the E-7 effort.
For the F-15EX effort, lawmakers allocated $600 million more than the USAF requested. This will enable
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
How the UK’s New Medium Helicopter award strengthens AW149’s European prospects
The UK advanced its long-delayed New Medium Helicopter programme in March with a £1 billion order for 23 Leonardo AW149s. While the deal could provide a foundation for further UK and European export orders, funding pressures and previous delays continue to cloud the programme’s future.
-
UK air focus: Drone spending trails European frontline states despite $10.46 billion valuation
Despite the UK having the third-largest military UAV market in Europe, the country appears to be underinvesting in the capability relative to the size of its economy, particularly when compared with Baltic and eastern European states.
-
Proteus: Forging the future of autonomous rotorcraft
As the home of British helicopters, Leonardo has worked with the UK Ministry of Defence for over a decade to advance technologies underpinning uncrewed rotorcraft. Today, in partnership with UK Defence Innovation and the Royal Navy, Leonardo is spearheading the next step in that journey: from remotely piloted technologies to fully autonomous systems.
-
“Fifth-gen capability without the cost”: how autonomous strike can change the face of air warfare
In Conversation… Armor Harris, Senior Vice President for Aircraft at Shield AI, talks to Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan about why cost-effective autonomous aircraft are a game-changer for air forces worldwide, and the key roles played by VTOL and AI as enabling technologies.