National Security

House, Senate spending plans aim to boost F-35 purchases

By Travis J. Tritten

Published June 26, 2018 1:23pm ET

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House, Senate spending plans aim to boost F-35 purchases — The F-35 fighter jet built by defense contractor Lockheed Martin, above. Executives from aerospace, defense and government services are optimistic about industry mergers in the remainder of the year, according to a survey by KippsDeSanto & Co., a Virginia-based investment bank. | (George Frey/Bloomberg)

Defense spending bills in both the House and Senate would significantly increase the number of F-35 joint strike fighters the military could purchase, well beyond what the Trump administration requested for the year.

A Senate subcommittee unveiled its plan to fund 89 of the high-tech jets on Tuesday, which is 12 more than the 77 requested. The appropriations bill came just as the House was considering annual defense spending legislation that calls for 93 of the aircraft.

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Congress Defense Defense Spending F-35 Lockheed Martin National Security News Senate Armed Services Committee Spending