"The modern U.S. Air Force traces its roots back to 1907 - only six years after the Wright brothers' first successful manned flight. In its humble beginnings as the U.S. Army Signal Corps, the earliest iteration of the Air Force had an annual budget of just $125,000 - about $4 million in current dollars - and a fleet of only nine aircraft."
"Today, the U.S. Air and Space Forces have a combined 323,000 troops in their ranks, accounting for over 25% of all active-duty service members in the U.S. military, according to the Department of Defense. While not the largest U.S. military branch, the Air Force is one of the best funded. In the Pentagon's budget request for fiscal 2026, Air Force weapons programs have been allocated $158.9 billion in combined spending for research, development, and procurement."
The modern U.S. Air Force traces its roots to 1907 as the U.S. Army Signal Corps and began with a $125,000 annual budget and nine aircraft. The First and Second World Wars expanded aerial combat roles and led to independence from the Army. The Air and Space Forces now total about 323,000 personnel, over 25% of active-duty forces. The Air Force receives substantial R&D and procurement funding, with $158.9 billion requested for fiscal 2026 weapons programs. Budget priorities support rapid global strike, intelligence, surveillance, and maintenance of technological superiority through costly programs including stealth bombers, next-generation fighters, and satellites.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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