The Next-Generation Air Dominance system—the fighter that will succeed the F-22—will have ground attack capability possibly for its own protection, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. told lawmakers June 16. Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on the fiscal 2022 budget request, Brown said he wants the NGAD to have “multirole” capability, emphasizing that the aircraft’s primary role will be air dominance but with the ability to strike ground targets as well. Compared to the F-22, Brown said the NGAD will have “increased weapons load [and] … increased range” necessary to operate at the great distances required in the Indo-Pacific theater.

The Air Force is requesting limited funding for its T-7A Red Hawk next-generation trainer because of technical issues uncovered in testing, which have pushed back the full-rate production decision on the aircraft by a year. The 2022 budget request calls for $188.9 million in research, development, test, and evaluation funding for the T-7. This is below the $206.4 million projected in the 2021 budget request's future year defense program. “Our focus and commitment to the T-7 has not waned," Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. assured members of the House Armed Services Committee on June 16. "We want to make sure the money aligns with where the program is.”

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center on June 16 issue a call to determine which companies could provide a “bridge tanker” to cover the gap in tanker capacity between the end of KC-46 production and development of a future refueler. The Sources Sought Announcement seeks qualified, interested companies that can provide a commercial derivative aircraft “based on existing and emerging” technologies. While the specific requirements are still being defined, the Air Force in a release said the tanker does not have to be stealth or uncrewed. Once requirements are set, the Air Force will release a final request for proposals by the end of 2022.

Even with a 3 percent to 5 percent increase in the defense budget, losing a conflict with China still becomes a “distinct possibility" without both aircraft cuts and a fundamental change in how the Air Force structures itself for war, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. warned lawmakers June 16. Asked by House Armed Services Committee ranking member Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) whether Brown agrees with the 2018 National Defense Strategy Commission’s finding that Pentagon spending should be increased 3 percent to 5 percent, Brown replied simply, “I do.”

Plans to upgrade facilities for the new Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent program remain "on the path" to stay on budget as the Minuteman III replacement's development progresses, Air Force Lt. Gen. Warren D. Berry told a Senate subcommittee June 16. "GBSD, where you're essentially going to replace a silo a week for eight years, is going to be a very complicated endeavor ... so we're very grateful for the authorities we've gotten from Congress," said Berry, the deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering, and force protection. "And I think those authorities that we have received have at least set us on the path to realizing the goal of staying on cost and on budget for the GBSD transition." Berry told the Senate Appropriations military construction subcommittee that a key focus of the department's military construction request this year was modernizing its nuclear facilities. In total, $98 million was requested for GBSD facilities—$67 million at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., and the rest at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Several Air Force aircraft including F-16s, C-130s, and KC-135s have deployed to northern Africa for the continent’s largest exercise involving 7,000 participants from nine nations. The African Lion exercise wraps up June 18, with USAF aircraft flying alongside Moroccan aircraft in close air support training and C-130s airdropping personnel in the exercise. “The arrival of fighters and tankers adds another level to this already dynamic exercise,” said Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander, in a release.