$448 Billion for Defense

Since everyone does not want to be seen as being anti-military, the defense spending bill passed with a large bi-partisan majority (394-22) in the House. It will authorise $448 billion, the largest ever so far.

* Will include $70 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (running total so far is $507 billion). It is expected that another $40 billion will be needed later this year. It costs about $8 billion a month in Iraq.

* Includes $86 billion to support 482,000 Army soldiers and 175,000 Marines. Military pay increase of 2.2 percent.

* $120 billion covers operations and maintenance

* $81 billion to buy new weapons

* $76 billion for R&D

New equipment is falling on the wayside as Congress continues to cut the number of new purchases, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost per unit. There is only enough money to build two DD(X) next-generation Navy destroyers, and two Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighters next year.

I was under the notion that the F-22 and F-35 were supposed to replace the F-15, and eventually the F-16 jets. If this keeps up, it will take a decade to replace only a small percentage of our current active Air Force.

F-14, entered service in 1972. Retired from Navy on Sept 22 2006. Did you know that the Iranian Air Force is the only military force outside of the US that still has F-14A jets in their inventory?

F-15, entered service in 1972, the E version was introduced in 1988.

F-16, entered service in 1978. Over 4,000 of these jets have been built.

F-17, prototype lightweight aircraft

F/A-18, entered service in 1983.