Coalition forces in Afghanistan came under small arms fire while performing routine operations in the vicinity of Tarin Kowt on Aug. 24. The troops requested close air support, and Air Force A-10s and B-52s responded. The B-52s launched nine precision-guided JDAMS—with successful results.
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.
