Aging Air Force Wants Big Bucks Fix

February 19, 2008
Aging Air Force Wants Big Bucks Fix

WASHINGTON -- Air Force officials are warning that unless their budget is increased dramatically, and soon, the military's high-flying branch won't dominate the skies as it has for decades.

An extra $20 billion each year over the next five _ beginning with an Air Force budget of about $137 billion in 2009 instead of the $117 billion proposed by the Bush administration _ would solve that problem, according to Selva and other senior Air Force officers.