Trump Budgets for 74 Military Rotorcraft, But Army Focuses Elsewhere

By R&WI Staff | February 14, 2018
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U.S. President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2019 budget asks for $686.1 billion for the military. While this does include some $24 billion to procure aircraft, the Army is set to spend more on ground combat systems.

As reported by R&WI sister publication Avionics, allocated funding for procurement includes:

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8 Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallions - $1.6 billion
60 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardians - $1.3 billion
6 Sikorsky VH-92 presidential helicopters - $900 million
77 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters - $10.7 billion

The U.S. Army is one of the helicopter industry's largest customer, in terms of aircraft operated. However, aviation procurement took a $400 million, or 10%, hit in the Army’s budget request unveiled Feb. 12, as reported by R&WI sister publication Defense Daily. This is the third year in a row aircraft procurement has paid bills for other priorities.

“Over the last decade or so, aviation was the highwater mark appropriation,” Army Deputy Budget Director Davis Welch told reporters in a Feb. 13 briefing at the Pentagon. “They were taking the greater share of the procurement funds. With what we’re looking at doing as far as increasing readiness at the brigade combat level and replenishment of war reserves and missiles, it was just a balancing this year that missiles, munitions and weapons, combat tracked vehicles took a greater share.”

Click here to view the full article at Aviationtoday.com

Click here to view the full article at DefenseDaily.com