Maj. Gen. Frank R. Faykes, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for Budget, said that his “first look” at the 2007 defense appropriations bill passed by the House Tuesday night—to be taken up in the Senate today—showed Congressional appropriators have handed the Air Force somewhat less than it requested for personnel ($34.4 billion vice $34.5 billion), readiness ($27 billion vice $29 billion), and infrastructure ($5.7 billion vice $5.8). Faykes told attendees Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in Washington that for modernization and recapitalization, appropriators bettered the Air Force request slightly, making it $36.7 billion vice $36.6.
Three B-1B Lancers from the 7th Bomb Wing flew over the Indo-Pacific alongside F-16s from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force recently, as part of a joint large force exercise. The mission began and ended in the continental U.S., as the bombers flew 31 hours and landed Jan. 11.