The 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in October surpassed 10,000 total sorties flown and 50,000 total flight hours with its MC-12 Liberty airplanes since its airmen began operating them less than two years ago. October also saw the squadron reach another milestone: its MC-12 flights, which provide live overhead streaming video and signals intelligence to ground troops, have resulted in the capture or elimination of more than 4,000 enemy targets. “It’s been amazing,” said Lt. Col. James Thompson, 4th ERS commander. He said the MC-12s—which have also operated with the 362nd ERS out of JB Balad, Iraq, and with the 361st ERS out of Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan—”are flying at the greatest rate” of any manned aircraft in the Air Force. 4th ERS aircrews hit their maximum authorized flying hours each month, according to unit officials. (Bagram report by Capt. Korry Leverett)
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.