The Air Force has sent A-10 Warthogs back to Afghanistan to augment the F-15Es now serving there as NATO and the coalition ramp up efforts to combat an increasingly strong Taliban revival. The A-10s and their air and ground crews deployed from the 354th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and, according to a release from the Combined Joint Task Force-82 at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, it’s the second deployment for the squadron since 2006.
Expanded production of the B-21 bomber can be accomplished at Northrop Grumman's existing Palmdale, Calif., facilities, the Air Force said. It also said test aircraft will be so simular to the production version that early examples could be used in combat if called for.