Maj. Gen. Frank R. Faykes, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for Budget, said that his “first look” at the 2007 defense appropriations bill passed by the House Tuesday night—to be taken up in the Senate today—showed Congressional appropriators have handed the Air Force somewhat less than it requested for personnel ($34.4 billion vice $34.5 billion), readiness ($27 billion vice $29 billion), and infrastructure ($5.7 billion vice $5.8). Faykes told attendees Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in Washington that for modernization and recapitalization, appropriators bettered the Air Force request slightly, making it $36.7 billion vice $36.6.
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.
