MSgt. Scott Laws at Shaw AFB, S.C., told the Air Force that is would save money if F-16 maintainers did not have to replace an $8,500 valve every time the $50 heat shield covering it gets damaged. He recommended replacing just the heat shield, which he found could be ordered separately, even though it’s not listed as a separate part in the current technical order. Once the Air Force changes the T.O., used by every F-16 base in the service, officials estimate the savings in the first year to be about $320,000. For his suggestion, Laws gets $10,000.
USAF to Cut F-35 Buy in Future Years Defense Plan
May 14, 2021
The Air Force wants to scale back buys of the F-35 over the next five years, hoping to get sustainment costs down and to wait for the more capable Block 4 version, according to talking points prepared for Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. The reduced buy will…