New for 2017: Important milestones ahead for key aircraft programs

The Air Force’s top three modernization programs — the F-35A Lightning II, the KC-46 Pegasus tanker and the B-21 Raider long-range strike bomber — all took significant steps forward in 2016, and that trend is likely to continue in 2017.

The service declared the F-35A ready for battle in August, meaning the first operational F-35 formation — the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah — can be sent into combat operations anywhere in the world. In October, F-35s began integrated training with F-16s at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

Though the F-35 could be sent to the Middle East to battle the Islamic State in 2017, it’s much more likely that it will first deploy as part of a theater security package to Europe or the Asia-Pacific region, Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, head of Air Combat Command, has said.
The Air Force expects to procure 43 F-35s in 2017 as it continues toward the ultimate acquisition of 1,763 aircraft. But that number could change, given President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to end sequestration and begin a military buildup.

Mike Pence, the vice president-elect, said Dec. 6 that the incoming administration plans to send Congress a supplemental defense funding request for 2017 by the beginning of May. House Republicans had wanted to include more F-35s in the defense policy bill they just passed and sent to the president.

But Trump is not a fan of the F-35 acquisition program. He has, for more than a year, been criticizing the effectiveness of the plane and the wisdom of spending so much money — roughly $400 billion — to buy 2,500 of the aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. On Dec. 12, he tweeted that “the F-35 program and cost is out of control.”

The move to a new aerial refueler has been less contentious. In August, the Pentagon cleared the KC-46A Pegasus tanker for production, and on Aug. 18 the Air Force awarded Boeing an initial contract for 19 aircraft and spare parts.

Boeing is expected to build 179 of the refuelers to replace the KC-135 fleet.
In addition to U.S. military aircraft, the multirole tanker will be capable of refueling all allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling standards. Based on Boeing’s 767 airliners, the planes can also be configured to carry passengers and cargo.

The tankers will be assembled in Everett, Washington, and Boeing expects to deliver the first of the fleet in late 2017.

Work on the B-21 also continues after an industry challenge to the awarding of the contract to Northrop Grumman and a congressional challenge by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, to the secrecy of the classified program's budget.

Northrop continues to hire personnel to work on the bomber at its Melbourne, Florida, facility, and the first B-21s could roll off the production line as early as 2025.

— Valerie Insinna contributed to this report.