Air Force Chief of Staff Michael Moseley told reporters this morning at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando that the service’s new long-range strike aircraft will be the “backbone of the bomber force.” With long-range strike and F-22 fleet size hanging on it, the new program better work. Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne added that the Air Force is going to try to get initial operating capability on the new bomber by 2018, but he acknowledges, “We know that will be a struggle.”
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.