Another round of base realignment and closure could save the Air Force $25 billion, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Wilson said Tuesday. USAF has “25 percent excess capacity,” he said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. When pressed by members of the committee, Wilson said that BRAC could “help us do smart investment” at a time of tight military budgets by taking money currently being used to support excess base capacity and put it toward other areas of dire need, like “deferred maintenance.” When asked if he would support such a move, Wilson said, “yes” unequivocally. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member of HASC, reintroduced a House BRAC bill on Jan. 26. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), SASC ranking member, recently said they were ready to consider a new round of BRAC.
Officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., said the range is “fully mission capable” to support launches following a major May 28 mishap involving Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.