The proposal presented by the Department of the Air Force foresees a strong expansion of investments in readiness, modernization, nuclear deterrence, next-generation fighters and space capabilities, with a 38% increase compared to the budget approved for 2026.
The U.S. Department of the Air Force presented on April 21 a budget proposal of $338.8 billion for fiscal year 2027, in a move that could mark one of the largest recent increases in investment in the country’s air and space military structure. The package combines funding for both the Air Force and the Space Force, focusing on operational readiness, fleet modernization, expansion of strategic capabilities and strengthening deterrence in the face of current and future threats.
If approved by Congress as submitted, the budget will represent an increase of $92.5 billion compared to the current fiscal year. Of this total, $267.7 billion would be allocated to the Air Force and $71.1 billion to the Space Force. According to Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, the proposal aims to simultaneously fund modernization and readiness, ensuring immediate and sustained response capability over the next decade.
Among the highlights of the proposal are investments in programs considered central to U.S. military superiority.
The budget includes additional funding for the Sentinel intercontinental missile, $3 billion to accelerate development of the new F-47 fighter, $2.7 billion for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program and $7 billion to continue production of the B-21 strategic bomber.
It also provides $7.4 billion for the purchase of 38 F-35 fighters and $3.9 billion for the acquisition of 15 KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft.
The proposal also sets aside $2 billion for large-scale exercises and training, reflecting the assessment that the Total Force must train under conditions increasingly close to real battlefield demands. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach said the request significantly expands resources for flight hours, spare parts, munitions, maintenance and advanced training.
For the Space Force, the proportional growth is even more significant. The requested budget represents a 124% increase compared to the current fiscal year, reflecting the growing priority assigned to the space domain in U.S. military strategy. Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, described the proposal as a generational opportunity to position the Space Force against emerging threats.
Funding for the space segment includes $6.7 billion for satellite communications, $6.8 billion for missile warning and tracking architecture and $21.6 billion for Space Control systems, one of the service’s core functions. In addition, the plan allocates $500 million for cyber warfare operations aimed at protecting satellites and another $2.9 billion for national security space launches, enabling the procurement of 22 launches.
Within the Air Force, the budget also includes $600 million for the development of a family of affordable mass munitions, in an effort to expand the range of weapons available to commanders and operational planners. The proposal also allocates an additional $2.5 billion for personnel, aiming to increase total force strength by 12,700 members, including 9,900 for the Air Force and 2,800 for the Space Force. Staggered pay raises are also planned, with a 7% increase for junior personnel and smaller percentages for higher ranks.
In the documents accompanying the request, the U.S. government describes the package as a strategic effort to strengthen the defense industrial base, enhance military readiness and ensure the country’s air and space superiority. The 38% increase over the approved 2026 budget is framed as a direct response to the security challenges the United States expects to face in the coming years.
Source and images: United States Air Force. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
