Whiteman Reservists Touch Down in Afghanistan: Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command’s 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., have arrived at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, with their A-10 Warthogs to conduct air-to-ground missions. The first six aircraft maintainers and pilots arrived last week as the advance party for an untold number of additional 442nd FW airmen. Some of these Reservists remember Bagram from a 2002 deployment, when they performed aircraft maintenance out of two tents. Now, there are “actual buildings,” said CMSgt. Steve Brazeal.
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.