Proposed Air Force budget includes $10B boost

The U.S. Air Force will see a $10 billion budget increase in fiscal year 2020 under the White House spending plan unveiled this week.

With the proposed increase, the Air Force’s budget would rise to $165 billion in fiscal year 2020, which begins Oct. 1, 2019. It includes funding for new fighter jets and a Space Force headquarters.

The proposed budget money to modernize nuclear ballistic missile operations, strategic bombers, nuclear air-launched cruise missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as associated nuclear command, control and communications systems. These expenditures are related to meeting challenges posed by China and Russia, providing effective nuclear deterrent, and continuing to disrupt violent extremists. 

There is also a $14 billion investment included for the Air Force’s space portfolio, which reflects a 17 percent increase over the previous year. The investment includes $72.4 million to establish the headquarters for Space Force, which will be a new service within the Department of the Air Force.

There is also additional money set aside for training, maintenance, spare parts and flying hours. It includes funding to train 1,480 new pilots, an increase from 1,211 trained this year. It also includes 3.1 percent pay raise for service members.

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said the new budget will help align the Air Force closer to the National Defense Strategy.

The budget also calls for purchasing an additional 48 F-35A Lightning II and eight upgraded F-15EX Strike Eagle fighters. It also sets aside funding for 12 KC-46A Pegasus tankers as well as funds for third-generation GPS satellites. Further, there is money to finance four launches of space vehicles for national security.

There is also funding for modernizing live and virtual ranges and infrastructure to provide realistic training capabilities against the most advanced threats. The Nevada Test and Training Range, the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Utah Test and Training Range, the Space Test and Training Range and several smaller range complexes will all receive targeted funding.

The Air Force points out that this represents an early, and uncertain, starting point of a months-long process. Congress will ultimately determine the final budget.