The Air Force's fiscal year 2022 budget request includes an $885 million new start to buy commercial microelectronic items -- part of a broader Defense Department-wide investment of approximately $2.3 billion. The department has identified microelectronics as a budget priority, along with other technology investments in areas like 5G, cyber, artificial intelligence and hypersonic weapons. Air Force budget documents identify the details of its projected FY-22 microelectronic investment as classified, noting simply that the funds would buy "commercial microelectronic items...
