The Air Force is promoting “One Materiel Enterprise” as a means by which it can overcome weapon-system acquisition challenges, reports JoAnne Rumple. Air Force acquisition leader Sue Payton and Air Force Materiel Command boss Gen. Bruce Carlson explained recently at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, that the effort would reduce weapon system requirements creep and help prevent program delays. Payton said that Carlson now would serve on a new Air Force integrated life-cycle management executive forum that “ultimately will give you better decisions about requirements, resources, and technology.”
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.