Lest anyone misunderstand the severe need for new Air Force equipment, Gen. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff, said Wednesday that the service is in the midst of the largest recapitalization effort in its history. Larger than post-Vietnam. Larger than what was needed after the Gulf War. And certainly larger than the reconstitution needed after 1999’s Operation Allied Force, which was a big deal at the time. Moseley pointed out during his remarks at AFA’s Air & Space Conference that USAF’s legacy hardware is “significantly less capable” than the state of the art equipment being purchased to replace it, is more expensive to maintain, and requires a larger footprint once it arrives in theater. And don’t forget that old aircraft break more often.
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.