As personnel and readiness costs have risen, USAF has devoted less money to procurement and research and development, Maj. Gen. Frank Faykes told reporters at a briefing on USAF’s 2007 budget request. In 1986, USAF put 55 percent of its budget into procurement and RDT&E. Today, the amount is around 35 percent. Faykes said the Air Force intends to increase the RDT&E budget by nearly $12 billion over the next five years.
Sikorsky is pitching a modified "U-Hawk" version of older UH-60 Black Hawk series helicopters as autonomous resupply aircraft with additional capabilities as missile or drone swarm launchers.
