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I found this sentence as an answer to the question: "What are some of the
symbols of Japan's wealth?"

> 次期主力戦闘機を何機も買おうとしていること

I'm not sure whether it means they're buying a lot of next-generation
fighters, or none at all.

I think it's a bunkei I have yet to learn, and I can't find it in the
textbook.
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2013-08-15T20:19:51.613
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2016-09-12T20:44:42.013
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grammar counters particle-も volitional-form
What does 何+(counter)+も+volitional mean? e.g. 何機も買おう
There is no relation here. It is simply `何機も` followed by the form `〜（よ）うとする`.
The `何機も` corresponds to the combat planes because planes are counted with
`機`. The `何 + counter + も` pattern just means "several" or an undetermined
amount of that thing. For example

>   * 食堂に生徒が何人もいます → There are several / There are a number of students in the
> cafeteria.
>

So your first translation is correct. "They will try/intend to purchase
several combat planes next." (+ `こと` to answer the question).
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2013-08-15T20:45:40.860
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It's not as apparent in [ 食堂に生徒が何人もいます ] but

in [ 次期主力戦闘機を何機も買おうとしていること ]

the implication is (as you said) that they're buying a lot of next-generation
fighters -- the suggestion of "too many" or "many".  
  

The "too many" sense is clear in the follwoing examples.

  * そんなに何度も何度も 言わないで分かってるから 無残にも悲しい顔を ひとつすることもなくて 溶けて消えてゆく 染まって色づいてく綺麗な言葉ほど歪んでいて「もうほっといて ...

> 夜､何度もトイレに起きる男は早死にする!? 東洋経済オンライン-2016/08/30
>
> 夜間、何度もトイレに起きる男性が多いようですね。
> 統計によると日本人男性の場合、50歳以上になると、夜中に1回以上トイレに起きる人が半分以上を占めるとされます。さらに70歳以上では、1回以上トイレに起きる人が大半を占めるそうです
> ...
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2016-09-12T22:15:43.753
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