The U.S. Air Force in the U.S. Army Budget 2022

Bayanalysis - The US Army's 2022 budget request continues to purchase Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and modernization programs for existing combat and bomber aircraft in the Navy and Air Force.

The development of the B-21 Raider long-range attack bomber is also being funded with initial capabilities expected to be deployed in mid-2020.

Technology maturity and risk reduction are included for the next generation of air dominance systems.

The main tactical investment in the Air Force is the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, which will form the backbone of the American stockpile. The F-35 program is developing, producing and introducing three types of fifth-generation strike fighter: 1) Air Force F-35A, a conventional take-off and landing variant; 2) Marine Corps F-35B Short Takeoff Vertical Landing (STOVL); and 3) the F-35C carrier's marine variant.

The F-35's advanced sensors and interoperability allow for a seamless exchange of information making all of our combatants on the battlefield smarter, more lethal, and more survivable. As the F-35 program continues to deploy increasing numbers of the three variants of the aircraft worldwide, the Department remains committed to improving sustainability affordability and delivering cost-effective upgrades to overcome future threats.

The US Army's 2022 budget also includes the purchase of 12 F-15EX Eagle II aircraft after the first two F-15EXs are delivered to the Air Force in 2021.

The patented 144th aircraft program will relieve stress on older legacy platforms while providing improved capabilities for the fighter.

The budget continues to fund the Navy's MQ-25 Unmanned Aircraft System, which will provide the Department with an unmanned carrier capability that will expand the carrier's carrier air wing strike force while providing maritime surveillance of the carrier strike group.

To fulfill the long-term missions of the President's Interim Guidance, the Department continues to develop advanced combat aircraft for both the Navy and Air Force within the Next Generation Air Dominance Program.

The US Army 2022 budget also continues to purchase the KC-46A air refueling tanker, which will replace the old tankers. The KC-46A provides greater refueling capacity for Navy and Air Force aircraft.

Finally, to further empower the Counter Violent Extremism Organization (CVEO), the U.S. Army 2022 budget includes procurement for the SOCOM Special Operations Command Armed Surveillance Aircraft Program in support of counterterrorism operations and partner nations.

The U.S. Army 2022 budget funds ongoing Air Force and Navy purchases of both the AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and the AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile.

The Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force are investing in modernization programs that improve capability and extend the use of existing aircraft. The addition of advanced Infrared Search and Tracking (IRST) sensors will significantly improve the detection and targeting of threat aircraft despite a complex enemy cyber attack, while the development and field introduction of active-scanned array radar will enable the F-16 to maintain its relevance throughout time. their term of service.

The US Army's 2022 budget funds the development of the B-21 Raider, the next long-range, and modernization of the existing bomber fleet of B-52s, B-1s, and B-2s. The budget funds the B-52 mission systems and communications upgrades as well as replacing ineffective and aging B-52 engines.
The U.S. Army 2022 budget funds multiple electronic warfare capabilities to improve the platform's survivability and enable force projection. The Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) will provide significantly improved Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) capabilities against the EA-18G's advanced integrated air defense radars and communications and data links. The U.S. Army 2022 budget also funds survivability improvements to the F-15 Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) and the F/A-18's Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures system.

These systems will independently detect, locate, and defeat radio frequency (RF) threat systems. In addition, the U.S. Army 2022 budget funds the ongoing production of the Combined Infrared Countermeasures System (CIRCM) to defeat current and emerging missile threats to rotary wing, tilt rotors, and small fixed-wing aircraft across the department.