The Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Michael Mullen, wants to get the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter “out and online.” He told defense reporters Tuesday morning that the F-35, which will replace the F/A-18, is crucial to the Navy’s future force. Mullen said, “To me, it’s about the JSF… my concern is for the JSF program and delivering it on time.”
President Donald Trump is proposing a 13 percent increase in defense spending for fiscal 2026, growth that could mean the first ever $1 trillion defense budget, according to a document obtained by Air & Space Forces Magazine.