The Air Force’s proposed budget for fiscal 2025 includes cutting procurement of two major fighter programs — the F-35A and F-15EX Eagle II — while boosting research and development funding for future capabilities. The Air Force plans to buy 42 F-35As for $5.9 billion and 18 F-15EXs for $1.8 billion next year, a reduction from the original expected purchase numbers. The Air Force will cap the F-15EX line at 98 instead of 104, and maintain the total purchase of 1,763 F-35As.
The Air Force plans to cut 250 aircraft in 2025, including A-10 Warthogs, older F-15 C and D Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles with less-capable engines, F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Block 20 F-22A Raptors. The retirements aim to save more than $2 billion. The proposed budget requests $217.5 billion, a 1.1% increase over the previous year. The Space Force, on the other hand, requested $29.4 billion, a 2% drop from the 2024 request.
Despite a cap on spending increases due to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall described the budget as “acceptable.” Kendall noted that tough choices lie ahead, especially in fiscal 2026, due to cost overruns and delays in the LGM-35A Sentinel program. The Air Force is focusing on research and development over procurement to address long-term challenges posed by adversaries like China.
The proposed budget includes various funding allocations for programs, such as the B-21 Raider, Next-Generation Air Dominance, and collaborative combat aircraft. The Air Force also plans to purchase KC-46A Pegasus tankers, T-7A Red Hawk trainers, as well as retire older aircraft like the KC-135 Stratotankers and T-1A Texan II training planes. The budget aims to strike a balance in addressing near-, mid-, and long-term challenges for the Air Force.
