"Air Force Expansion Advocated by Allvin: Justifying Increased Budget Allocation"
Unleashing the Skies: Air Force's Top Brass Pleas for More Dollars, Promise of Cutting-Edge Tech
In a raw, unfettered appeal, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Goldfein laid concrete arguments for beefing up the Air Force's budget on November 13. Goldfein's address took center stage at the maiden Airpower Advancement Summit arranged by AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
"Simply put, I believe America needs a larger Air Force," Goldfein stated, not mincing words. "We can clearly witness the positive impact a well-funded Air Force would have, and I'm confident we can serve our nation better if we're less strained."
Goldfein, alongside top officials, outlined the service's upcoming force design, which centers around four pivotal attributes: lethality, survivability, mass, and connectivity.
Currently, the Air Force stands as the smallest in history in terms of aircraft inventory. Meanwhile, the pursuit of nuclear modernization has pegged budgetary ambitions on some of the service's future projects, such as the Next-Generation Air Dominance's crewed fighter, now uncertain due to expenses and potential downsizing.
Stressing the Air Force's need to adapt to environmental changes and remain the planet's most formidable aviation force, Goldfein mentioned the new force design aims to shape the service's 2030s capabilities.
"Unfortunately, we won't reap these benefits effortlessly," Goldfein warned. "Our resourcefulness won't secure our position. We need conscious effort and strategic thinking."
"My overarching goal is to guide the Air Force with the resources on hand, while also stressing the objectives I envision if additional resources become available," Goldfein explained. "This force design will serve to highlight the true value proposition of airpower to our nation."
Goldfein's lobbying for increased funding comes as the defense community speculates on the incoming Trump administration's defense policies. Trump has repeatedly advocated for a foreign policy of "strength through peace," though the finer details have yet to surface.
Operating under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Department of Defense is currently subjected to a 1% annual cap on budget growth through fiscal year 2025 and possible additional spending constraints stretching until 2029.
"To reiterate, more resources for the Air Force translates to more missions," Goldfein clarified. "As the Chief of Staff, I'm determined to allocate whatever budget we receive towards maximizing our lethality, combat readiness, and strategic strength, while also providing insightful recommendations for potential resource enhancements."
Boosting the Blue Skies
(for context, under the Trump administration's proposed defense budget for fiscal year 2026, the Department of the Air Force received a substantial $260.8 billion overall, marked by an increase of $3.7 billion over the previous year. Specifically, the Air Force's budget would grow to $234.4 billion, while the Space Force's funding would decrease to $26.4 billion)
Goldfein's case for boosted financing points toward a more aggressive, technologically-advanced Air Force. Here's how the Air Force intends to utilize the enhanced resources:
- Personnel: $47.5 billion
- Operations and Maintenance: $75 billion
- Procurement: $54.4 billion
- Research and Development (R&D): $52.1 billion
- Military Construction: $4.5 billion
Greater funding enables the Air Force to drive developments like the sixth-generation F-47 fighter jet and Collaborative Combat Aircraft—part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative. Allocated resources include $3.5 billion specifically earmarked for the F-47. The F-47 is poised to offer cutting-edge capabilities such as extended range, enhanced stealth, and reduced infrastructure requirements compared to present fifth-generation fighters.
Additionally, the Air Force seeks $24.8 billion for aircraft procurement, with $7.1 billion from reconciliation spending. These resources support the acquisition and modernization of various aircraft, contributing to the growth of future Air Force capabilities.
Overall, the Air Force's swelled budget and emphasis on innovative technologies are poised to dramatically improve its future force design by prioritizing modernization, sustainability, and strategic capabilities. However, the reduction in Space Force funding could impede cooperation and integration efforts between the two services.
- The Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. David W. Goldfein, emphasized that a larger Air Force is necessary for America's security in a speech at the Airpower Advancement Summit.
- Goldfein outlined the service's upcoming force design, focusing on attributes like lethality, survivability, mass, and connectivity, which aim to shape the Air Force's capabilities in the 2030s.
- With the Trump administration's proposed defense budget for fiscal year 2026, the Department of the Air Force received a substantial increase, allocating resources toward personnel, operations, procurement, research and development, and military construction.
- The enhanced budget could enable the Air Force to develop modern aircraft such as the sixth-generation F-47 fighter jet, offering advanced capabilities like extended range and enhanced stealth, as well as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative.
