Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania is telling his constituents that NAS Willow Grove—set to lose its Air National Guard A-10s if the BRAC commission rulings stand up—will remain active despite the realignment of the units currently stationed there. In an op-ed piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer Thursday, he wrote: “While Willow Grove will not continue in its current form, without question, a strong and significant military presence will remain there.” Rendell said the only issue now is the fate of the 111th Fighter Wing’s A-10s. He believes that the ruling by US Dist. Judge John Padova legally bars the removal of the A-10s. (DR, 8/29/05.) The BRAC commission and DOD disagree.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
