Long Beach Steps Up C-17 Blitz: The civic leaders of Long Beach, Calif., are going on a full court press to save Boeing’s C-17 assembly line in Long Beach. They have formed a “red team” of economic development officials, Boeing executives, business leaders, and state officials to concoct tax or fee adjustments to help reduce the cost of building the new airlifter, reports the Long Beach Press-Telegram. One notion would give Boeing a five-year discount on its utility bills. Good luck.
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.