The US House Republicans have introduced a budget reconciliation package, proposing a US$150 billion increase in Pentagon spending. Interestingly, the F-15EX and F-15E Eagle fighter jets have bagged the lion’s share of the amount allocated for tactical fighters in the bill.
The package, developed by the House and Senate Armed Services committees, includes nearly US$ 7.2 billion for the procurement and modernization of tactical aircraft. The reconciliation package essentially allows the party with a congressional majority to fast-track legislation. It will be a supplement to the fiscal 2025 budget.
The package has pledged US$7.2 billion for tactical aircraft. The latest variant of the F-15 Eagle — the cutting-edge F-15EX Eagle II — has been allocated an additional US$ 3.1 billion. This comes almost a year after the aircraft entered full-scale production in June 2024.
Earlier, the US Air Force (USAF) had planned to purchase 104 F-15EX Eagle-II jets, a number that was later reduced to 98, or approximately five squadrons of the fighter. However, if the proposed package is approved, the fleet might see an expansion.
The proposal to hike defense spending and add more fighter jets to the USAF comes amid calls for “More Air Force” made by the USAF Chief of Staff General David Allvin.
Speaking at the Airpower Futures Forum, Allvin emphasized that the air force remains stretched thin. “The force is stressed. And we’re still doing our very damn best,” he stated.
The timing of the package also corresponds with the concerted attempts made by its manufacturer, Boeing, to woo customers for the aircraft.
The aircraft is currently operated by the US and Israel, and has been pitched to countries like Indonesia, Poland, and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, according to reports, the F-15EX may also enter India’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) contest.
The F-15EX is the most sophisticated iteration of the F-15 fighter jet, the USAF’s ace air superiority fighter for decades. The F-15EX features an increased payload capacity, cutting-edge fly-by-wire controls, a digital cockpit, modernized sensors, improved radars, and robust electronic warfare capabilities.
A fact sheet released on April 15 stated that the aircraft can engage multiple targets simultaneously and perform a variety of missions per sortie, including air superiority, interdiction, and close air support, thanks to its expanded payload capacity of 23 total weapons stations, as recently reported by the EurAsian Times.
Notably, compared to previous variants, the F-15EX can carry five times the weight of air-to-ground weapons, many more air-to-air missiles, twice as much cannon ammunition, double the flying range, and 1.5 times the speed, while operating at about half the cost. The aircraft can carry a variety of weapons, including air-launched hypersonic missiles.
As for the F-15, its kill ratio can put all comparable fighter jets in the world to shame. No F-15 has ever been lost in air combat, while it has over 100 kills to its name.
Due to this impeccable service record, lawmakers have also secured funding for the F-15E Strike Eagle. The package also includes some US$488 million to help the Air Force keep operating fighters that Congress refuses to let them retire—US$127.5 million to continue operating 14 F-15Es, and $361.2 million to keep flying 32 of its oldest and least-improved F-22s.
Although the F-15E Strike Eagle’s outdated airframe and lack of stealth capabilities may not allow it to compete with the most recent 5th and 6th generation fighters, it nevertheless offers the USAF a flexible, multi-role aircraft for electronic warfare, deep strikes, airspace and base protection, close air support, and reconnaissance.
And with all the readiness issues that the USAF has been plagued with, the USAF remains wary of losing the dwindling number of aircraft in its inventory. That may explain the extra money proposed for the F-15E’s operation by the USAF. The task ahead for the force remains to modernize to face the burgeoning challenge posed by China’s growing combat capability, and to maintain its numbers intact for a potential battle.
What Else Does The GOP Propose?
The proposed bill pledges US$400 million to “accelerate” the F-47 sixth-generation combat aircraft program for which a contract was awarded to Boeing by President Trump in March 2025. Separately, the US Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation aircraft program will get half a billion dollars, even though the program’s winning contractor has yet to be declared.
Approximately US$678 million would be allocated to the military’s collaborative combat aircraft program, which aims to develop an autonomous, loyal wingman drone that will fly alongside F-35 and other cutting-edge fighters, such as the F-47. CCAs are viewed as a crucial component of the US military’s future airpower capability and a means of increasing its range at a lower cost than jets operated by human pilots.
However, the USAF F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter is conspicuously left out. There has been no mention of the F-35 in the package, sparking a debate, as highlighted by Air and Space Forces Magazine.
As part of the package, an additional US$13 billion would be allocated to the Air Force and Navy to update their respective components of the country’s nuclear triad. This includes US$4.5 billion to expedite the Air Force’s acquisition of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which will be the primary nuclear weapon carrier. The B-21 will eventually replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets.
Additionally, lawmakers allocated US$160 million to expedite modifications to the engine nacelles of the Bell-Boeing V-22 fleet, which have been the cause of several tiltrotor transport mishaps. It also promises US$100 million to “accelerate” the Boeing MQ-25 carrier-based autonomous tanker aircraft program.
The package also provides US$440 million to boost production of the C-130J and US$474 million to enhance the production of the EA-18 G Growler.
Notably, one of the largest beneficiaries is the Trump administration’s sophisticated missile defense shield, known as the Golden Dome. The bill proposes to increase funding for ground and space-based missile defense by US$24.7 billion.
In addition to the above, the bill would include nearly US$34 billion for U.S. shipbuilding.
However, it is pertinent to note that before the plan gets forwarded to the House Budget Committee, the Democrats still have a chance to make amendments. The bill, projected as crucial for deterrence and boosting the US military’s combat power, has been scheduled for debate on April 29.
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