Air Force Space Command medics from Peterson AFB, Colo., wrapped up a 10-day exercise in Ecuador last week, during which they visited four isolated towns to treat some 7,000 Ecuadorians. In one day, Feb. 7, the 21st Space Wing medics treated 1,500 patients. (The AFSPC team expected to see about 750 per day.) They were aided by Ecuadorian military security and medical personnel as part of the US Southern Command medical readiness exercise.
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.