Airmen from Keesler AFB, Miss., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif., have joined forces to create an ICBM maintenance virtual trainer—Air Education and Training Command’s top nuclear training priority—for use in courses at Vandenberg. Members of Keesler’s 81st Training Support Squadron’s simware section and Vandy’s 532nd Training Squadron are involved in the project. “IMVT addresses certain training shortcomings by providing critical training instruction [for] Vandenberg’s missile maintenance officer course,” said Ronald Washburn, 81st TRSS simware development section chief. Final delivery is scheduled for late 2012, but the two units are making elements of IMVT, such as a voice-over-Internet-protocol telephone system, simulated radio, and digital clocks, available beforehand. This new training resource is expected to cost about $800,000, much less than the $3.6 million estimate had a civilian contractor supplied it. (Keesler report by Susan Griggs)
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.