WATCH: Deptula Unpacks the Aging Aircraft Crisis in ‘Year of Readiness’

Feb. 25, 2026 | By Tobias Naegele

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, unpacks the keynotes and headline sessions from AFA’s 2026 Warfare Symposium to break down why Department of the Air Force leaders are calling this year the “Year of Readiness”—and why the Air Force faces a force structure, age, and funding crisis.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Air
Warfare Symposium

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