Since the day in 1947 when the Air Force became a separate service, at least one concrete tie with the Army has continued unabated—the weather support provided by airmen to soldiers. An Air Force news release notes that one USAF unit, the 7th Weather Squadron, with headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany, has been providing such weather support to the Army since 1942. The 7th WS has 26 weather detachments throughout Europe and many battlefield weather airmen working directly with Army units.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.