The compromise fiscal 2019Â National Defense Authorization Act would support the addition of 15,600 service personnel across military branches and a 2.6 percent pay increase for troops.
The measure includes the procurement of 77 F-35 fighter jets, cancellation of the U.S. Air Forceâs Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System recapitalization program and allocation of $40.8 billion in funds to address military aviation crisis and $23.5 billion to update and repair military infrastructure.
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a Senate Armed Services Committee member, said he expects the upper chamber to approve the bill next Tuesday, July 31.
Breaking Defense reported the reconciled defense bill would authorize approximately $3.2 billion to support development work on new Columbia-class submarines and $250 million in additional funds for the submarine industrial base.
The report said the fiscal 2019 NDAA compromise also includes two additional Virginia-class submarines, a third aircraft carrier and two more littoral combat ships.