House Armed Services Committee majority aides said Friday the panel believes the Navy needs the 12 F/A-18E/Fs the committee intends to authorize for fiscal year 2022 to reduce risk during the service’s strike fighter shortfall. Committee Chairman Adam Smith’s (D-WA) mark of the FY-22 defense authorization bill, acquired by Inside Defense earlier this week, adds $970 million to the F/A-18E/F program for 12 jets. Despite statements from Navy leadership that the service does not want the F/A-18E/Fs, committee majority...
