Fighter jets won support among senators in new defense policy legislation that also raised questions about some of the Air Force’s top priorities. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved a $740.5 billion version of the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill 25-2 on June 10. Its recommendations now head to the full chamber for consideration and a vote as early as next week. Lawmakers want to allocate $9.1 billion to the Defense Department for 95 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, including 60 F-35As at $5.5 billion for the Air Force, according to a June 11 bill summary. Notably, the legislation sets a minimum number of aircraft the Air Force must own for each type of mission, and stops the service from retiring the A-10, KC-10, KC-135, and manned special-operations intelligence aircraft.

Senators endorsed the creation of a reserve component for the Space Force in new legislation but want more evidence that a Space National Guard is necessary as well. The Senate Armed Services Committee this week approved its version of the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill 25-2. “We wanted to make sure that they knew why they wanted to do a Guard, and where they want to do a Guard, and what the Guard was going to do, and that report was not received at the time that we started this markup, so we weren't able to address those things adequately,” a Senate staffer told reporters June 11. “I'm sure they will be addressed, but whether there's a Guard or not, we'd like to first see that report and the recommendations, so we can present that to members so that they can make the decision.” Military officials are preparing to present Defense Secretary Mark Esper with a framework for a Space Force with Reservists and Guardsmen soon.

The U.S. military can, and must, do more to address lingering racial inequalities, especially now as the country at large grapples with protests over racial injustice, said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, in a videotaped address. The death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of a white Minneapolis policeman, “amplified the pain, frustration, and the fear that so many of our fellow Americans live with day in and day out.”

Airmen and F-15Es from the 389th Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, recently returned home from a deployment to the Middle East that was extended by two months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The squadron was set to return home from an undisclosed location in April, but their travel was delayed by movement restrictions enacted to keep troops healthy. The six-month deployment stretched to eight months, according to a Mountain Home release.

The 62nd Airlift Squadron is using its C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to safely fly hundreds of Air Education and Training Command students between training locations to lower their risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus while continuing their studies, according to a recent 19th Airlift Wing release. The emergency mission is also helping the squadron’s pilots stay in the air during the pandemic, and gives instructor pilots a chance to become familiar with the C-130J’s Block 8.1 upgrade before students start using it in training.

On March 23, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will host a virtual Nuclear Deterrence Series event featuring Scowcroft Group Principal Frank Miller. At a time when nuclear modernization programs are accelerating around the world, proposals to recapitalize the U.S. nuclear arsenal are at the forefront of debates over defense spending. Miller will share his insights into the prospects for U.S. nuclear modernization programs and the value of nuclear deterrence in today's competitive security environment. The think tank will post event video on its website and YouTube page after the live event.