Trump’s proposed budget better for Boeing — by $1.4 billion

The Boeing Co. came out ahead in the federal budget proposal released Tuesday by President Donald Trump’s administration. The proposal increased spending in fiscal year 2018 on Boeing defense programs by $1.4 billion compared to the previous spending request, which was submitted in 2016, according to analysis by Wells Fargo Securities.

The White House’s budget increases the number of P-8 sub-hunting airplanes from six to seven and the number of AH-64 Apache helicopters from 58 to 63. It also boosted requested spending for converting unguided — or “dumb” — bombs to guided weapons from $219 million to $874 million.

It also requests less money for Boeing’s KC-46 aerial refueling tanker program, from $3.2 billion to $3.1 billion, but does not change the number of tankers — 15. It cuts the military’s orders for CH-47 Chinook from 13 helicopters to six. Spending on the program likewise would drop from $789 to million to $415 million.

Of course, Congress will come up with its own budget proposal — or at least try to.

Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.