A Cold Front Is Approaching: Are budget pressures endangering major aircraft programs? Surprisingly, Levin says no. He does not believe that termination awaits either the Air Force’s F/A-22 Raptor or the multi-service F-35 Fighter. Moreover, he does not believe the F/A-22 would be “reduced further,” though the F-35 could get a shave. Levin did not address the Air Force push to actually increase the F/A-22 production run to 381 aircraft.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
