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Air Force

USAF “Focus Right Now Is Readiness,” Acting Vice Chief Says

Frank Wolfe

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

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USAF “Focus Right Now Is Readiness,” Acting Vice Chief Says

Pictured is a U.S. Air Force photo of an F-16 with the 35th Fighter Wing taking off from Misawa Air Base, Japan during Exercise Sprint 26-2 on Jan. 14.

U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach are emphasizing the provision of needed parts for aircraft under a "fly, fix, and fight" strategy, Lt. Gen. Scott Pleus, the service's acting vice chief of staff, said on Thursday at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies airpower forum. Such parts are vital to flying hours, as statistics have shown that Air Force fighter pilots get less than half the nine sorties per month required under the…

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