The Marine Corps has dispatched 10 MV-22 Ospreys to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, according to a Nov. 7 Virginian-Pilot report. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship based in Norfolk, Va., launched the new tilt-rotor aircraft in three waves for the two-hour flight to the camp, according to the newspaper. The Marine Corps earlier this year said it was on track for a fall deployment to Afghanistan. The new Marine Osprey force previously deployed to Iraq, where USMC officials said it exceeded expectations.
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.
