The Air Force and Army plan to award a contract for the Joint Cargo Aircraft program in March, reports Reuters news service. According to Army Brig. Gen. Stephen Mundt the Army and Air Force must sort out conflicting legislative language, however he believes there could be a contract award before top Pentagon acquisition officials complete a program review in March. He also said that the services could answer Congress’s questions about an analysis of alternatives by March.
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.