The pilot shortage is not just hitting the fighter pilot community, the head of the Air Force’s mobility force said. Air Mobility Command is projecting to be short 420 fighters across the Total Force in the coming year, while Air Combat Command is projecting a shortage of about 700 pilots. AMC, much like ACC, is looking at retention bonuses and increased flying to keep pilots around, AMC boss Gen. Carlton Everhart said at ASC16. AMC also is projecting a shortage in maintainers. Everhart attributed that to improvements in the economy improves, saying airmen can be expect greatly increase salary opportunities by moving to the private sector.
The Air Force on March 12 awarded contract modifications worth a combined $2.4 billion to Boeing to procure an undisclosed number of E-7 Wedgetail as part of the program's engineering and manufacturing development phase and continue work on the airborne battle management aircraft’s radar.