An MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle took out enemy combatants with a Hellfire missile May 18 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Air Forces Central announced May 19. These combatants were engaging friendly forces with rocket-propelled grenades. Also on that day, A B-1B bomber dropped 500-pound joint direct attack munitions on enemy combatants that were engaging friendly forces in Deh Chopan, Afghanistan.
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.
