The Air Force has been patiently waiting for the Army and Marine Corps to lay out their expansion plans, so USAF can make its own plans for both airlift and personnel needs. Recent news that the Army planned to accelerate its expansion seemed to offer hope USAF might get the data it needs, however Art Pine of the National Journal reports that defense analysts don’t believe the Army can meet its new schedule or will soon know, with any certainty, its future force structure requirements.
The Air Force wants to spend more than a half billion dollars through 2031 on a new protection system designed for cargo and refueling aircraft that features onboard sensors and weapons to track and take down enemy missiles and drones.