Air University plans to restructure its staff and apply the savings—money and personnel—toward creation of a new independent research institute that will supplement the newly revitalized Checkmate. The new AU entity will be called the Air University Research Institute, and its primary job will be research and analysis of the Air Force contributions to national security. It will report directly to the AU vice commander, Maj. Gen. Allen Peck.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.