A DOD spokesman said Wednesday that the Air Force did not recommend buying more than 187 F-22 aircraft in budget deliberations that concluded with the program announcements Monday by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Geoff Morrell, Gates’ top spokesman, told the Daily Report that Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley are “completely on board” with the F-22 decision, and that they think 187 is “the right number.” The Air Force has declined to comment on advice it provided to Gates about the F-22. Read Executive Editor John Tirpak’s conversation with Mr. Morrell, posted online Wednesday morning.
B-21 Raider First Flight Now Postponed to 2023
May 20, 2022
The Air Force says the B-21 Raider won't make its first flight until 2023; about a six-month delay from the last official estimates. No reason was given for the delay. While other programs have recently chalked up schedule slips to supply chain and labor shortages, the Air Force has said…