Jumper Sees Iraqi Need for US 
Airpower: Gen. John P. Jumper predicts that Iraq will need on-call US airpower longer than it will need US ground forces. The Chief of Staff, who retires Sept. 2, told reporters Iraqi forces will “require the support from the air until they’re able to set up their own ability to support themselves.” Jumper added, “That’s going to take a while, even after some future withdrawal of [US] ground forces.”
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
