The Air Force has issued its draft environmental impact statement for changes it would like to make to the pilot training conducted out of Shaw AFB, S.C. The training areas in questions overlay part of both South Carolina and Georgia. What the Air Force wants to do is to fly more realistic missions. To do so, it wants to install more electronic training transmitters, use more chaff and flares, and change the configuration of the airspace it uses—giving some of the existing space back to civil use but adding different space to its range. All of which should go over real well during the public comment period. Just say the magic word: BRAC. That should wipe out any opposition. (Read our article here on the growing problem with training ranges.)
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.
