Randolph AFB, Tex., has just received the last two of the Air Force’s upgraded T-38C aircraft. The Air Force began 11 years ago to upgrade the avionics on the nearly 40-year-old trainers, making such dramatic changes to the aircraft’s “brain” that it “really is a whole new aircraft,” says Lt. Col. James Garrett, chief of undergraduate flying training requirements at Air Education and Training Command. He called the upgrade essential because of growing maintainability and replacement problems. MSgt. Jon Hanson reports that more changes are in progress for the propulsion system, ejection seats, and banking system—all of which the service expects to complete by 2015.
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.
