Although the Pentagon’s new Aviation Investment Plan doesn’t anticipate buying any new strategic airlifters for at least a dozen years, it’s likely that the C-17 fleet may be enhanced or life-extended during that period, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said in an interview. “I’m sure we will do things to the C-17 … [to] maintain its viability,” he said. The fleet will need to be “tidied up, particularly those that were bought in the mid-90s, no question.” However, Schwartz doesn’t see any need to “stretch” any C-17s, “particularly given the performance of the RERP program for the C-5,” which is installing new engines and a variety of other life-extension modifications. (RERP stands for reliability enhancement and re-engining program.) (Also see Aviation Plan, Not a Contract)
Key Air Force, Space Force Leaders Set to Retire
May 23, 2022
The Department of the Air Force announced the retirements of several key leaders within the Air Force and Space Force on May 23, while also unveiling more than a dozen new assignments for current or future one-star generals.