五角大廈砸重金擴軍！美軍F-35採購衝上85架　背後預算盤算曝光

(U.S. Navy)

美國國防部正式公布 2027 財年（FY27）預算規劃，將持續大量採購 F-35 Lightning II 匿蹤戰機，總數達85架。不過，真正引發關注的，並不是數量本身，而是其中大部分資金來源，竟來自美國國會推動的「預算協調法案（Reconciliation）」。

 

美國五角大廈希望透過這項特殊預算機制，加速軍事投資與軍備更新，尤其是在印太局勢與全球安全壓力升高之際，美軍正試圖重新強化空中優勢。

 

此次預算案中，美軍規劃採購：

• 47架 F-35A（美國空軍型）

• 13架 F-35B（短場垂直起降型）

• 25架 F-35C（航艦型）

 

其中，美國空軍仍是最大使用單位，而海軍與海軍陸戰隊則持續強化航艦與兩棲作戰能力。

 

值得注意的是，這次採購案並非完全由年度國防預算支應，而是部分依靠共和黨主導的預算協調程序。這代表，美國政府正在尋求繞過部分國會僵局，以更快速方式推動軍事現代化。

 

近年來，Lockheed Martin 生產的 F-35 戰機雖然仍是全球最受矚目的第五代戰機，但也持續面臨成本、後勤與軟體升級問題。尤其新一代 TR-3（Technology Refresh 3）升級計畫延遲，曾導致部分戰機無法如期交付。

 

然而，美軍仍認為 F-35 是未來聯合作戰核心平台，尤其在面對中國與俄羅斯日益進步的防空與電子戰能力下，匿蹤與資料鏈整合能力變得更加重要。

 

對台灣而言，美軍持續擴大 F-35 部署，也反映美國正強化印太地區的空中嚇阻能力。由於日本、韓國、新加坡與澳洲皆已部署或規劃部署 F-35，未來亞太地區的第五代戰機密度將持續上升。

 

此外，美國近期也積極推動「協同作戰無人機（CCA）」與 AI 空戰系統，F-35 未來可能不再單獨作戰，而是成為指揮無人機群的空中節點，戰術角色正快速演變。

 

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三個觀察重點

 

1️⃣ 美國正全面強化印太空優

 

F-35 持續大量採購，代表美軍仍將中國視為主要戰略競爭對手，亞太空防壓力正在升高。

 

2️⃣ 未來空戰不再只是戰機對戰機

 

F-35 將逐漸與 AI 無人機、資料鏈與電子戰系統整合，未來戰場更像「空中網路戰」。

 

3️⃣ 台海周邊第五代戰機數量將越來越多

 

日本、韓國、澳洲與美軍同步部署 F-35，台灣周邊空中作戰環境正快速改變。

 

The U.S. Department of Defense has officially unveiled its Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget plan, confirming a continued large-scale procurement of 85 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters. However, what is drawing the most attention is not the number itself, but the fact that much of the funding will come through the U.S. Congress’ “Reconciliation” budget process.

 

The Pentagon hopes to use this special budget mechanism to accelerate military investments and force modernization, particularly as tensions in the Indo-Pacific and global security pressures continue to rise. Washington is clearly attempting to reinforce America’s long-term air superiority strategy.

 

Under the proposed budget, the U.S. military plans to acquire:

• 47 F-35A fighters (U.S. Air Force variant)

• 13 F-35B fighters (short takeoff and vertical landing variant)

• 25 F-35C fighters (carrier-based naval variant)

 

The U.S. Air Force remains the largest operator, while the Navy and Marine Corps continue strengthening carrier and amphibious warfare capabilities.

 

Notably, the procurement will not be funded entirely through the standard annual defense budget. Instead, part of the acquisition relies on the Republican-backed reconciliation process, allowing the government to bypass some congressional gridlock and push military modernization forward more rapidly.

 

In recent years, the F-35 program, developed by Lockheed Martin, has remained the world’s most prominent fifth-generation fighter platform. However, it has also faced persistent criticism over costs, logistics challenges, and software upgrade delays. In particular, delays involving the TR-3 (Technology Refresh 3) upgrade package previously slowed aircraft deliveries.

 

Despite these setbacks, the U.S. military still considers the F-35 a cornerstone of future joint warfare operations. As China and Russia continue advancing their air defense and electronic warfare capabilities, stealth technology and advanced data-link integration are becoming increasingly critical.

 

From Taiwan’s perspective, America’s continued expansion of F-35 deployments signals a broader effort to strengthen Indo-Pacific air deterrence. Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Australia have already deployed or are planning to deploy the aircraft, meaning the density of fifth-generation fighters across the Asia-Pacific region will continue to rise.

 

At the same time, the United States is actively developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs and AI-enabled aerial warfare systems. In the future, the F-35 may no longer fight alone, but instead act as an airborne command node coordinating drone swarms and networked battlefield operations.

 

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Three Key Observations

 

1️⃣ The U.S. is rapidly reinforcing Indo-Pacific air superiority

 

The continued large-scale procurement of F-35 fighters demonstrates that Washington still views China as its primary strategic competitor, with regional air defense tensions steadily increasing.

 

2️⃣ Future air combat will no longer be fighter-versus-fighter only

 

The F-35 is expected to integrate closely with AI drones, data-link systems, and electronic warfare platforms, transforming future combat into a highly networked “air warfare ecosystem.”

 

3️⃣ Fifth-generation fighter presence around Taiwan will continue growing

 

With Japan, South Korea, Australia, and U.S. forces all deploying F-35s, the air combat environment surrounding Taiwan is evolving rapidly and becoming significantly more complex.