We missed the hint earlier this month of a significant change within the Air Staff. It was the announcement that the Air Force has tapped Lt. Gen. David Deptula for assignment as the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for intelligence. (Deptula currently serves as vice commander of Pacific Air Forces and commander of the Kenney Warfighting Center.) As of March, intelligence had been part of the job of the director of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance within the DCS for air and space operations.
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.