Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne formally implemented information technology “lean” re-engineering improvements for acquisition activities last month. Currently, the Electronic Systems Center’s Operations Support Systems Wing is using the process and force-wide implementation is scheduled by May 28. Before the improvements, the Air Force used several different processes to develop, test, and field IT systems. The result was frequent delay and sometimes less than satisfactory product performance. USAF officials say that the new lean process uses an enterprise approach to system development and cuts out certificates of networthiness and operation certificates that were often to blame for delays.
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.
