Three Air Force crews flying B-2A Spirit bombers, hit 16 out of 16 targets with live GPS- Aided Targeting System/ GPS-Aided Munition (GATS/GAM) weapons during a test at the Nellis AFB, Nev., range. The Whiteman AFB, Mo.-based crews drop the 2,000-lb. weapons from 41,000 feet and record 13 direct hits; three bombs record heavy damage and one is functionally damaged. The Northrop- developed GAM will serve as an interim weapon until USAF fields the new Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).
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.
