ARLINGTON — The U.S. Air Force is preparing for an intensive push to modernize the fleet, strengthen readiness, and bolster coordination with joint and allied forces as Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach formally assumes duties as the 24th Chief of Staff. The new service chief outlined a broad but urgent agenda aimed at reversing declining aircraft availability, accelerating the adoption of advanced capabilities, and reinforcing the warfighter culture across the world’s largest air force.
Speaking during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Wilsbach said the service must restore reliability across combat formations, improve aircraft availability, and ensure airmen maintain the proficiency required to meet global mission demands. He warned that any gap in readiness—whether in equipment or personnel—undermines the nation’s combat advantage. “Aircraft or personnel who are not ready to fight weaken the nation’s ability to win,” he said.
Wilsbach highlighted that readiness remains inseparable from the daily work of airmen across the service. Reported by Defense News, he stressed that the force must “fly and fix to fight and win,” underscoring that maintainers, operators, defenders, logisticians, and support personnel all play essential roles in generating combat airpower. “Every role, maintainers, operators, defenders, and logisticians, contributes to generating airpower,” he said.
Addressing Readiness Challenges
The incoming chief inherits a force grappling with persistent readiness strains. Mission-capable rates have slipped to slightly above six out of ten aircraft on an average day in fiscal 2024, a trend driven by aging platforms, maintenance shortfalls, and parts shortages. The Air Force’s total inventory has also fallen below 5,000 aircraft for the first time, placing further pressure on sustainment and training requirements.
Wilsbach warned that the service must “restore reliability across combat formations” to ensure it can deliver airpower at the scale and speed required in future conflicts. He pointed to Operation Midnight Hammer—the U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—as proof of the Air Force’s ability to deliver decisive results, saying such operations highlight why readiness must remain a constant focus. He added that the service must invest in “steady, realistic, and difficult training” to maintain a strong warfighter culture capable of meeting high-end threats.
Accelerating Modernization and Future Capabilities
Modernizing the fleet sits at the center of Wilsbach’s agenda. He said the Air Force must accelerate the acquisition and fielding of next-generation capabilities, including the sixth-generation F-47 fighter, the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, and collaborative combat aircraft designed to pair autonomous drone wingmen with crewed fighters. These systems, he noted, are essential for preserving the service’s edge in an era of rising competition with technologically advanced adversaries.
He affirmed that modernization and innovation will keep the Air Force “at the front of combat aviation,” emphasizing the importance of both rapid fielding timelines and disciplined program execution.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, who swore in Wilsbach on Nov. 3 following Senate confirmation on Oct. 30, said the service’s future depends on updating the aircraft inventory and delivering new capabilities on schedule. Meink emphasized that “getting modernization right” will determine how effectively the Air Force can compete in the decades ahead.
Enhancing Joint and Allied Coordination
Wilsbach also stressed that the Air Force’s success relies on tight integration with the other U.S. military branches and international partners. He said unified efforts are essential for maintaining global stability, noting that joint operations, shared planning, and synchronized command structures remain central to long-term strategy.
He added that leaders across the force must be willing to take “smart risks” to strengthen combat culture. Training environments, he said, must reflect the complexity of real-world threats so airmen are fully prepared for future operations.
Building Readiness Through Training and Leadership
Throughout his remarks, Wilsbach returned to the theme of readiness—arguing that disciplined training, strong leadership, and empowered airmen form the foundation of the Air Force’s ability to protect the nation and maintain air dominance. “Every role, maintainers, operators, defenders, and logisticians, contributes to generating airpower,” he reiterated, underscoring that airmen at all levels remain the decisive factor in the service’s combat performance.
As Wilsbach begins his tenure, the Air Force faces a pivotal period marked by rapid technological change, shrinking fleet numbers, and mounting global security pressures. His agenda signals that restoring readiness and accelerating modernization will define the service’s course in the years ahead.
