The Air Force will be spending some of its $34 billion in planned overhead savings on buying an extra 16 simulators for its fleet of F-35A strike fighters, said Secretary Michael Donley. He said the service expects to conduct fully 50 percent of F-35 pilot training in simulators. Among the benefits, this shift away from real-world flying will help generate savings in fuel costs and, presumably, sustainment, he said during his Air Force Association-sponsored presentation Wednesday in Arlington, Va.
The Air Force budget would grow to $234 billion while Space Force spending would shrink to $26 billion under the White House's yearly ask.