Pacific Air Forces has proclaimed itself the energy reduction king of major commands for 2006, saying it has reduced its energy use by 17 percent below a 2003 baseline. In large part, officials say, the command’s success relies on airmen to be energy conscious, since the far-flung command’s weather extremes make one, all encompassing approach impractical. PACAF also is at the forefront of USAF’s drive to shift to alternative fuels, having opened a hydrogen-generating station last fall.
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.
