Boeing announced Thursday that the first retired F-16s that the company will convert to QF-16 full-scale aerial targets for the Air Force have arrived at its facility in Jacksonville, Fla., for the modification work. “This is an important program for the Air Force and Boeing,” said Steve Waltman, Boeing’s director of aircraft sustainment and maintenance, at the arrival ceremony. The Air Force chose Boeing in March to convert up to 126 retired F-16s for use as the targets, with first deliveries in 2014. Waltman said Boeing is confident that the company will deliver the QF-16s “on budget and on time.”
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
