The full House Armed Services Committee supports the markups of its subcommittees on several programs, including the need to keep the C-17 line open, so increased the budget request by $2.4 billion to procure 10 more of the new airlifters. It also would allow USAF to retire C-5As, providing it maintains 299 strategic airlifters, provide for continuation of the alternate F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine, and limit Joint Cargo Aircraft funding, pending completion of the ongoing intratheater airlift study. On the personnel side, the house authorizers would prohibit a Tricare fee increase for military retirees and boost military pay by 3.5 percent.
Multiple U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have deployed out of Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., June 21 as President Donald Trump weighs whether to join Israel’s campaign against Iran, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed.