Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s written testimony for Tuesday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing contained the declaration, “The Air Force fleet is aging.” He added: “An aging fleet means increased maintenance costs and flight restrictions. It is important that we recapitalize the fleet to retain America’s air dominance and strategic flexibility.” Given the Secretary’s history of rebuffing most Air Force efforts to reinvigorate its old aircraft fleet, it’s hard to believe Rumsfeld is softening, but it’s possible. His latest budget doesn’t offer much in the way of concrete steps, however.
The Air Force achieved its goal of recruiting 32,750 Active-Duty enlisted Airmen for 2026 five months ahead of schedule, military officials said this week—its biggest recruiting year in more than two decades.