Japan’s cabinet has approved the use of about 200 air force support elements in Iraq through July 31, 2008. In May, Japanese legislators passed a measure that would permit the airlift mission to continue for another two years.
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.