House defense appropriators have added $2.2. billion to the Obama Administration’s $75.5 billion war supplemental to buy eight C-17s and $904 million to buy 11 C-130Js, according to documents issued earlier this week by Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The committee is scheduled to consider the bill today. Obey said in a statement May 4 that procuring the additional C-17s—which, by our count, would give the Air Force a total of 213—would “allow for the decommissioning of a number of C-5s.” The C-130 mark-up, he said, is “essentially moving forward President Obama’s recommended purchase for 2010.” According to the draft committee report, the C-130 buy would comprise five C-130J combat-delivery aircraft, three HC-130J tankers, and three MC-130Js for special operations forces. Obey said the committee’s proposed version of the bill “does not address” the KC-X tanker issue. (House appropriators’ bill summary)
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.