Policy bill backs 77 F-35s; appropriators likely to increase procurement

House and Senate authorizers have agreed to a fiscal year 2019 defense policy bill that would authorize the procurement of 77 F-35 aircraft, although that number could increase as appropriators negotiate a final spending bill.

The compromise policy bill, released July 23, matches the Defense Department's request to buy 77 F-35 aircraft in FY-19. However, House appropriators proposed 93 jets in their mark of the legislation and their Senate counterparts proposed 89 aircraft -- leaving room for a potential increase in Joint Strike Fighter procurement.

The policy bill also retained provisions that require quarterly reports on the F-35's progress and that would fence 25 percent of the funding for the program's follow-on Continuous Capability Development and Delivery effort until the department provides a detailed cost and schedule estimate.