CMSAF Rodney McKinley told airmen at Goodfellow AFB, Tex., last week that airmen across the force “are doing an incredible job.” That said, he urged, as has the Air Force’s new top leadership, a renewed focus on the nuclear mission. In his words, “We need to make sure the American public knows we’ve got the stick.” He downplayed rumors that USAF would recreate Strategic Air Command, but he said, “Our inspections have declined over the years and so has our focus.” He advocated taking a SAC approach with its strict attention to inspections of nuclear weapons operations. (Goodfellow report by TSgt. Dorian Chapman)
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.
