Rear Adm. Dean Peters, a U.S. Navy program executive officer, has said the service branch’s air anti-submarine warfare, assault and special mission programs office plans to increase its aircraft purchases through fiscal 2023 as a result of increased budget.
PEO(A) looks to procure 75 units during fiscal 2018 and another 167 over the next five fiscal years, the Naval Air Systems Command said Thursday.
Peters noted the office had planned to buy 41 aircraft for FY 2018 and 167 for the FY 2019-2023 period.
“During my time as a program manager since 2007, working programs or in the PEO, this is really the first time that we’ve been able to talk about increases in our programs as far as what we’re procuring.”
He said that the V-22 Osprey program office will soon deploy a roll-on, roll-off kit for the MV-22B aerial refueling mission with a U.S. Marine aircraft.
The Navy is also testing missile systems on the P-8A Poseidon and C-130 Hercules.