In their bill, House lawmakers did not add to the planned purchase of 24 F-35s in 2026, and HASC Chairman Mike Rogers said that the committee recognizes that the F-35 cut stems from a “strategic decision to finally prioritize funding towards sustainment and modernization.” The Senate Armed Services Committee, however, has moved to add 10 jets, bringing their version up to 34 jets. The F-35 program came on the chopping block after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a 8 percent shift of DOD funds to pay for new priorities from the Trump administration, and the Air Force needed money to move ahead with a sixth-gen fighter jet, the F-47. While a long-range strike on enemy territory in the Pacific would look vastly different than what the U.S. did in Iran, “the same principles apply that we need to be able to penetrate and create effects in dense threat environments,” Allvin said, pointing to the development of the future B-21 bomber, a stealthier and smaller replacement of the B-2.
Author: Audrey Decker
Published at: 2025-07-23 22:41:28
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