Responding to a reporter who asked whether the Air Force was gambling that Congress would add more C-17 airlifters, Lt. Gen. Stephen Wood insisted that Air Force leaders ”don’t play politics.” He maintained that gambling isn’t a healthy way to plan a force. He added that the idea hasn’t come up, even once.
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.
