Spares And Repair Parts

The Spares And Repair Parts program, as outlined in Line Item 355900 of the FY2026 Air Force budget, is a critical component of the Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force (PAAF) appropriation. The primary goal of this program is to ensure the continued operational readiness of Air Force munitions by providing necessary spares and repair parts for a wide array of ammunition and related end items. This line item supports both initial provisioning for newly fielded systems and ongoing sustainment for existing inventory, directly contributing to the effectiveness and reliability of the Air Force's munitions stockpile.

The objectives of the Spares And Repair Parts line item are twofold: to procure initial spares for new end items and to replenish spares for existing systems. Initial spares include repairable components, assemblies, subassemblies, and consumable items required to support the deployment of new munitions and associated equipment. These requirements are determined using historical failure and demand data from similar items, ensuring that the Air Force can maintain operational capability as new systems are introduced into service.

For ongoing sustainment, the program funds replenishment spares, which are essential for the continued maintenance and repair of fielded munitions. These spares are also comprised of repairable components and assemblies, with procurement levels based on item-specific failure rates and demand-driven computations. This approach allows the Air Force to address wear and tear, obsolescence, and other lifecycle issues that arise during the service life of munitions and related systems.

The program supports a diverse set of end items, including rockets, cartridges, practice bombs, general purpose bombs, Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD), explosive ordnance disposal equipment, flares, and fuzes. Spares procured under this line include flight test telemetry packages, telemetry kits, batteries, fuzes, cables, electronic components, and test support equipment. These items are vital for both operational use and ongoing test and evaluation activities, such as the Weapon System Evaluation Program (WSEP) for the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD).

Another key objective of this line item is to address production challenges related to Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS), material shortages, and obsolescence. The program allocates funds for engineering studies, bridge buys, life-of-type buys, supplier and parts replacement efforts, and qualification activities. These measures are intended to preserve future production capabilities and maintain the availability of critical components, especially electronic parts that may be in short supply or subject to rapid technological change.

The Spares And Repair Parts program also plays a role in supporting the War Reserve Material (WRM) Munitions and test and training stockpiles. The Air Force, including its Active, Guard, and Reserve components, draws from these stockpiles as needed and receives allocations for test and training purposes on an annual basis. This ensures that munitions inventories remain at levels required to meet operational plans and contingency requirements, with inventory objectives updated throughout the year based on evolving combatant commander needs.

The funding request for the Spares And Repair Parts line item is justified by the need to maintain readiness and sustainment of Air Force munitions. By supporting both initial fielding and ongoing maintenance, addressing supply chain risks, and ensuring the availability of critical components, this program underpins the Air Force's ability to meet its operational, training, and contingency requirements. The requested funding is aligned with Title 10, U.S. Code Section 2308, allowing for procurement flexibility based on negotiated options, pricing, and available resources.