USN, USMC Want to Maintain F-35 Production, End KC-130J Production After 2024 Written 14 March 2023

Aviation Week reports the US Navy and Marine Corps “want to maintain production of the Lockheed Martin F-35B and F-35C at a steady rate over the next five years and end KC-130J production after 2024, while not requesting any F/A-18E/Fs, E-2Ds or V-22s, according to the fiscal 2024 budget request.” Janes reports the USN’s “budget requested USD17.3 billion to purchase 88 aircraft and helicopters, including spare parts, support equipment, and facilities.” The service “intends to spend USD4.9 billion dollars to procure Lockheed Martin F-35s. USD2.3 billion is meant to purchase 16 F-35Bs, the vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft flown by the US Marine Corps (USMC). The F-35Bs will replace Boeing AV-8Bs and F/A-18C/Ds. Another USD2.6 billion is slated for 19 F-35Cs, the conventional aircraft carrier-capable variant flown mainly by the USN. 15 of the C-models will go to the Navy, while the remaining 4 will go to the US Marine Corps.” According to Janes, the “other major purchase is the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, designated to replace the CH-53E as the USMC’s heavy-lift helicopter. The USN allocated USD2.16 billion to purchase 15 of the King Stallion helicopters.”
Full Story (Aviation Week); More Info (Janes)