The Air Force will increase its investment in previously deferred military construction projects in Fiscal 2017, Maj. Gen. James Martin told reporters Tuesday in a Pentagon briefing. USAF has proposed $380 million for F-35A, KC-46, and Combat Rescue Helicopter beddowns; $41 million for projects supporting the nuclear enterprise; and $115 million for dorm projects and a fitness center for the Active Air Force, Martin said. For the Air Force Reserve, the budget includes $181 million for KC-46 and C-17 projects; and for the Air National Guard, it includes $71 million for C-17 and F-22 projects and a new fire station, he said. The military construction budget also includes $53 million for a Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex, $43 million for European infrastructure consolidation site development and infrastructure, $35 million for a large aircraft maintenance hangar for US Central Command, and $35 million for munitions storage igloos in Asia-Pacific. However, with additional funding, the Air Force “could execute up to $464 million in [additional] new construction,” Martin said.
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.
