Talking Smart Ops 21: Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne has issued a new “Letter to Airmen,” discussing the Air Force’s role in providing “an array of capabilities” to combatant commanders. Wynne writes, “We must seek to constantly give value to our ‘customers.’” To that end, he notes, the Air Force has expanded its depot streamlining initiative into what it terms “Air Force Smart Operations 21 (AFSO 21).” Wynne continues, writing that this “continuous process improvements” approach “will be the new culture of our Air Force.”
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.