Airmen have taken over operations at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq from US marines, activating there the 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron on Dec. 15. The US drawdown in Iraq prompted the shift of responsibility. Al Asad currently is the only facility designated to receive US commercial aircraft on flights directly from the US. The unit’s newly installed commander, Lt. Col. Barry Dickey, declared that the unit would maintain “the best airfield, with the best aerial port and security in the area of operation.” (Al Asad report by SrA. Jarrod Chavana)
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.