The Air Force is developing a fighter force structure strategy that will resolve how to accommodate various outcomes of the F-35 program, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said Tuesday. The Defense Acquisition Board on Monday discussed the preliminary findings of the F-35 technical baseline review from F-35 program manager Vice Adm. David Venlet. The meeting did not produce any final decisions, and the board will meet again to discuss the F-35’s progress and prognosis, Schwartz told defense reporters in Washington, D.C. Hanging in the balance, though, is what the Air Force might have to do to extend the lives of its F-16s; hence the strategy, which Schwartz said “will be provided” to accompany F-35 information, presumably to Congress, along with the Fiscal 2012 budget proposal. Schwartz said while he has “concerns” about the F-35, particularly the delivery schedule, he thinks the F-35A model—the one the Air Force will use—is making good progress, racking up hours and test flights, and showing “software stability.” There have been “no failures or surprises” with the F-35A’s structure, “so that part of the program looks pretty good,” he said.
NATO Scrambles Fighter in Newest Response to Russian Drones
Sept. 16, 2025
NATO scrambled its first fighter Sept. 13 under its new plan to bolster its defenses against Russian air incursions that was put into place after an array of Russian drones flew into Polish airspace last week, the officials from the alliance’s military command said.
