The 61st Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Ariz., flew out of Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field on the Barry M. Goldwater Training Range as part of Desert Sting, an exercise USAF officials used to see if Gila Bend could serve as a more realistic training environment. Lt. Col. Jeff Hausmann, 61st FS commander,said the intent was to take the unit’s pilots “out of their comfort zone.” The squadron sent five F-16s and 62 personnel—air and ground crew—to the field. The exercise project officer, Capt. Scott Sieting, called the location a “great place” since it’s weather and terrain is similar to Southwest Asia.
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.
