Imagine a new paint that isn’t a carcinogenic hazard for the painters, is environmentally friendly, and reduces painting time. Air Force Materiel Command and friends at the University of Missouri-Rolla, Boeing, and Deft Industrial Finishes have concocted just such a material to replace the one currently used to strip and paint F-15 fighters. And, the new non-chromate materials perform as well as the old chromate primers, say AFMC officials. AFMC expects to complete full conversion to the new primer through the six-year Program Depot Maintenance cycle, with 36 Eagles already painted since September 2005.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.