Air Mobility Command is pressuring Boeing to speed up its fixes for multiple Category One deficiencies on the KC-46 tanker, especially the aircraft’s remote vision system. “I’m looking at the fact that we’re eight months into accepting our airplanes, and Boeing has not presented a solution that has met all the parameters,” AMC boss Gen. Maryanne Miller told reporters Sept. 18 at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. “In a couple months, that’s what I’m looking for,” meaning a fix that can meet all the Air Force’s requirements. Read the full story by Brian Everstine and John A. Tirpak.

Air Combat Command on Sept. 18 announced that its new organization spearheading information warfare is called 16th Air Force and will tentatively be led by now-25th Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Timothy Haugh, pending his confirmation by the Senate. Haugh is also nominated to receive a promotion to lieutenant general. Sixteenth Air Force is the result of an ongoing merger between 24th Air Force, which manages cyber operations, and 25th Air Force, which handles intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, cryptology, and related fields. It will take on other missions like weather analysis as well. “Can you imagine a world where we’re able to go take some ax in cyberspace, trying to see what their response is, and preposition intelligence tools to be ready to measure that response?” ACC boss Gen. Mike Holmes asked. Read the full story by Rachel S. Cohen.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, not even two months into the job as the leader of the Pentagon, made his first major appearance before airmen on Sept. 19 and reminded them the domination the service has enjoyed in the skies is coming to an end. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.

While the bulk of the Air Force’s fighter fleet will not meet the directive to increase its mission capable rate to 80 percent, the increased funding and focus on readiness under the effort has identified issues Air Combat Command can address to improve the health of the fleet. Air Combat Command boss Gen. Mike Holmes said Sept. 18 at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference he is “really happy with the shift made in the Air Force” to emphasize readiness, moving “significant money” during the fiscal 2019 budget. That trend will continue in the fiscal 2020 budget. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.

The Air Force is considering spacing out the time between when an airmen’s abdominal circumference is measured and when they complete the other components of the Air Force physical fitness test to lessen the likelihood of them going to potentially lethal lengths to pass, CMSAF Kaleth Wright said Sept. 18. Read the full story by Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sept. 18 he expects Congress will get on board with sweeping changes the Pentagon is planning in future budgets, even if it means lawmakers’ pet projects could be cut. “I think Congress is very anxious for reform,” Esper said at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. “I think there's broad appreciation for the challenges we face. They are looking for leadership. And I think, for the most part, they will be supportive.” The Defense Department is revamping its investments to better meet the needs of conflict with advanced adversaries, which requires bigger boosts in long-range weaponry, cyber, electronic warfare, data-sharing networks, and more, while still keeping up with counterterrorism operations in the Middle East. Read the full story by Rachel S. Cohen.