The Senate Appropriations Committee last week included language in its defense bill markup urging the Air Force to start work toward an exportable version of the F-22, but Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Sept. 15 at AFA’s Air & Space Conference said he doesn’t see the value in such an effort. “I personally don’t see that as the best use of our acquisition talent,” he said. The Air Force will certainly take the language seriously and talk with the Senate to fully understand “their intent,” but Schwartz noted that the language is a recommendation, not the law.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.