A team at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia believes it has developed a high velocity maintenance process that will increase aircraft availability. At heart of the HVM effort is shared information—between the home station and the ALC—about each aircraft, enabling the ALC to have specific parts and equipment in place when an aircraft arrives at the ALC for programmed depot maintenance. The WRALC team plans to test its process with much-in-demand Air Force Special Operations Command C-130s, beginning in late spring or early summer 2008. If successful, the team would extend the HVM process across USAF’s entire C-130 fleet and on to other weapons systems. (Report by Lisa Matthews.)
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.