Lawmakers deal; 62 F-35As

U.S. lawmakers struck a deal Dec. 16 for a $1.4T bipartisan spending plan to fund the government through FY 2020, including $695.1B for the Defense Department. The House is expected to vote on the bill today (Dec. 17). The Senate is slated to follow later this week. If passed, it would avert a government shutdown before temporary funding runs out Dec. 20. The bill represents a $19.5B increase over FY-19, and includes a 3.1 percent pay increase for military personnel. It breaks down as $622.6B for base funding, $70.6B for overseas operations, and $1.8B in emergency funding. The agreement provides the Air Force 62 F-35As – 14 more than requested. The Navy (F-35C) and Marine Corps (F-35B) will each get six more of those jets. In all, DoD would be funded for 98 total F-35s of all three variants. (AF Magazine 12/16/19) https://www.airforcemag.com/congress-announces-appropriations-deal/ It also contains $23.9B for 14 ships: 3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, one frigate, 1 landing helicopter assault ship, 1 amphibious transport dock, 1 expeditionary fast transport ship, 2 ers and tugs, and 3 Virginia-class submarines. (Source: Defense News 12/16/19) https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2019/12/16/hold-spending-deal-would-avoid-shutdown-give-738b-to-defense/