President Bush has nominated Army Gen. William Ward to become the first commander of the new US Africa Command, which when initially operational in October will be a sub-unified command under US European Command. The Pentagon expects Ward, who currently serves as EUCOM deputy commander, to usher in AFRICOM as a separate unified command by Sept. 30, 2008. He has been instrumental in helping craft the new command’s agenda and operating structure, which will include a State Department official as one of its deputy commanders.
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.