The Air Force is facing a funding shortfall in Fiscal 2013 because it must continue operating five C-5A transports and three B-1B bombers that it planned to retire, but has to retain due to this fiscal year’s defense authorization act. “The Congressional language directed 36 combat-coded B-1s, so that does leave a hole for about three B-1s’ worth of operations and maintenance,” Col. Jon Thomas, program integration division chief in Air Force headquarters, told reporters on Jan. 10. “We’re a little bit concerned about that,” he added. The total shortfall for just the B-1s is estimated at $50 million this fiscal year, said Thomas. For the C-5As, Air Force planners are considering several courses of action and “each one has a different cost,” he explained. The defense legislation allows the Air Force to retire its remaining C-5As, 26 airframes in all, but not until 45 days after completing a new study of the US military’s mobility needs, said Thomas. For Fiscal 2013, that means the Air Force is stuck paying to keep five C-5As in the air.
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.
