On the recent Joint Civilian Orientation Course trip through US Central Command’s area of operations, the civic leaders got briefed on the Air Force’s standard—air strikes, close air support, cargo and troop hauling, and ISR—and not-so-standard—direct ground combat support operations—contributions and got to participate in a training drill with USAF Security Forces airmen.
When the Air Force sets a new program baseline for the B-52 re-engining this fall, there will be “some” cost increase, because the project wasn't previously fully funded, and the Air Force has a better handle on actual supplier costs and knowledge from ground testing, program officials said.