The Air Force’s two top leaders are “grateful” that Congress wants to add 10 more C-17s to its fleet, but they want to ensure lawmakers understand that getting the tanker replacement program going is a priority also. Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne told reporters Monday at AFA’s conference that the C-17 addition indicates that Capitol Hill appreciates and wants to address fleet modernization. Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley noted that USAF had asked for seven C-17s at “the top” of its wish list of unfunded priorities for 2007. Moseley said the service would have no trouble absorbing the aircraft as “attrition reserve” replacements for C-17s that are being flown well beyond their programmed hours supporting the wars in Southwest Asia.
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.