The US Department of Defense wants to spend $257.3 billion during fiscal year 1999, according to budget figures presented to Congress.
The request is $2.4 billion more than the US Congress allowed the Pentagon for FY1998 weapons spending.
There are no surprises in the budget submission, which includes major funding for the Boeing C-17 transport, and increasing production of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike aircraft and the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor. The FY99 request calls for $48.7 billion in procurement and $36.1 billion for research and development efforts.
The US Air Force is seeking $77 billion for 1999, including $811 million for the first two Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 fighters, and $3 billion for 13 of 120 C-17 military transports which it plans to buy. The USAF aims to spend another $1.6 billion to complete F-22 research and development.
The US Navy/Marine Corps has requested $81 billion for the year in an effort to step up aircraft procurement. V-22 procurement holds steady at seven aircraft worth $1 billion, but ten V-22s are planned for the following year. The USN is looking for $3.3 billion to buy 30 F/A-18E/Fs, but no additional Super Hornets will be purchased until the aircraft's wing-drop problem is resolved.
If the budget is approved, the US Army would receive $64 billion, including $221 million for 22 additional Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters.
Source: Flight International
