Airmen of the 36th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, from Barksdale AFB, La. have achieved an 84.2 percent mission capable rate with their B-52 bombers. SMSgt. Don Perrien reports that Barksdale officials had anticipated only making a 76 percent Micap because of the age of the bombers and not having access to the unit’s full supply system. The deployed airmen have relied on “the equipment, tools, and knowledge we brought with us,” said Maj. George Johnson Jr., 36th EAMXS commander.
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.
