UH-1N Source: US Air Force UH-1N Source: US Air Force Close

The Air Force is replacing the UH-1N Huey 46-year-old fleet by procuring new replacement aircraft to support four missions - Nuclear Deterrence Operations, Continuation of Government Operations, Survival School support, and Test and Training.

Current UH-1N Huey locations include Eglin Air Force Base's Duke Field, Florida; Fairchild AFB, Washington; FE Warren AFB, Wyoming; Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, Maryland; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; and Minot AFB, North Dakota.

The Air Force UH-1N Huey replacement program supports the Defense Department's principal priority to maintain a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent that safeguards the homeland, assures allies and deters adversaries. The replacement for the UH-1N Huey will feature significant improvements in the areas of speed, range, endurance, payload capacity and survivability.

Each stateside active duty UH-1N Huey location will receive replacement aircraft pending the outcome of the environmental analysis.

The 2016 Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Requirements Oversight Council approved the purchase of new aircraft to replace the 46-year-old UH-1N Huey fleet. A contract award for the new aircraft is anticipated later this year with deliveries planned for 2020-2032.

MQ-9 Reaper Source: US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Source: US Air Force Close

The bill includes a total of $145.9 billion for procurement and $93.5 billion for research, development, test and evaluation, reflecting increases of $1.6 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively. These figures include both base and OCO funding.

Navy procurement increases by $1.3 billion, predominantly for ships. The committee adds $650 million for an additional LPD Flight II ship, recommends adding advance procurement funding to bolster future procurement of Virginia class submarines and DDG 51 class destroyers, and adds $250 million for a cable ship. The bill does not include two Littoral Combat Ships added in the House version of the bill, meaning that issue will be settled in conference.

The Air Force receives an additional $516.9 million for procurement in the Senate bill, including $413.8 million for aircraft. The bill includes $350 million for the O/A-X light attack aircraft program. Last year, the Senate Armed Services Committee recommended adding $1.2 billion for the program, but that funding never materialized in the final defense spending bill. The FY19 version of the bill also adds $120 million for MQ-9 Reapers, $65 million for A-10 replacement wings, and $74 million for C-130 modifications. However, the bill cuts funding for one F-35A and one KC-46A. The service also sees a $574.9 million increase in its research and development account, including $100 million to accelerate a hypersonic conventional strike weapon and $100 million for the Evolved Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) program.

The Army actually loses $263.9 million from its procurement account, partially offset by a $119.6 million increase for research and development. The service does receive an additional $500 million for an interim cruise missile defense efforts under the indirect fire protection capability program, but the bill cuts funding for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, Bradley upgrades, and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

The defense authorization bill now heads to conference committee, where House and Senate lawmakers will sort out differences between their respective proposals. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said he hopes to send a conference bill to the White House by the end of July. Congress has historically had an easier time passing the authorization legislation, which is primarily a policy bill, than the defense appropriations bill. The separate appropriations process ultimately determines how programs will be funded in FY19.

Two Argentine T-6C+ Texan II's Source: Argentine Ministry of Defense Two Argentine T-6C+ Texan II's Source: Argentine Ministry of Defense Close

The award is a contract modification to a previously awarded Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal signed in April 2017. That deal covered the delivery of four T-6C+ Texan II's to Argentina and was worth $88.2 million. The aircraft were delivered in October 2017.

Argentina initially planned to purchase 24 T-6s but for budgetary reasons, it was agreed to lower the initial requirement to 12, with a plan to purchase a second batch of 12 at a later date. When the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) initially approved the purchase in August 2016, it estimated the total cost of the 24 aircraft at $300 million, a substantial cost for Argentina as it tries to reduce government spending.

When the contract for the aircraft was finally signed in April 2017, it only covered four aircraft. It is not clear if Argentina will acquire additional aircraft at a later date to bring the total closer to the desired 24 aircraft. However, considering the country's current economic situation, that is unlikely.

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