A proposal for a new African Command is in the final stages and will be sent to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld by the end of October, an unnamed military official told Voice of America News. Time Magazine online reported in August that the Pentagon was working this initiative, which would put Africa under one command instead of the three that currently share the region. According to VOA, Rumsfeld requested a “milestone” proposal developed in collaboration by Central Command, European Command, and Pacific Command—all of which share some portion of Africa under the current Unified Command Plan.
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.