The Air Force reports that Air Force Special Operations Command flew a total of more than 13,000 hours and nearly 3,150 sorties over the course of 2006. Those flying statistics were spread across six models (see chart). The leader in flying hours is the AC-130V, with more than 6,500; the leader in sorties is the MH-53 helicopter, besting the gunship by 35 sorties, but flying about half as many hours.
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.
