CSAF emphasizes mobility modernization importance at 2026 A/TA symposium

Air Mobility Command:

"Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Ken Wilsbach addressed Total Force service members, defense leaders and industry partners at the 2026 Airlift/Tanker Association Symposium in Kissimmee, Fla., Nov. 6.

Speaking to hundreds of mobility professionals gathered for the annual convention, Wilsbach emphasized that the Joint Force’s ability to project decisive combat power relies directly on the rapid acceleration of Air Mobility Command modernization initiatives and the operational readiness of its Airmen.

“Our environment isn’t just evolving, it’s changing at a rapid pace,” Wilsbach said. “And when we need to adapt quickly, our nation turns to our mobility forces. We do not move, we do not sustain and we do not fight without air mobility. I am confident today that our mobility machine is the greatest power projection capability in the history of mankind.”

Throughout his keynote address, Wilsbach outlined how the service is aggressively pursuing modernization across the mobility enterprise to outpace emerging threats associated with the modern battlefield. He relayed that investment in emerging technology and fleet modernization for AMC will be a critical force multiplier for any potential future fight.

“We owe them the best info possible, so they can adapt faster than any adversary,” Wilsbach explained. “The Airlift/Tanker Open Mission System, or ATOMS, is closing the gap. AMC took the concept from development to a combat-tested capability, compressing years of traditional development and testing into just six months. ATOMS uses beyond line-of-sight connectivity to deliver a common operational picture.”

The general described how the mobility air force (MAF) already has dozens of airlift and air refueling aircraft connected in this manner which has them land with more situational awareness than they had at takeoff. ATOMS experimentation is fueling a new, formal program, MAF Nexus, designed to further connect the MAF fleet, facilitating dynamic taskings and command-and-control requirements which enable combat air force (CAF) fleet and Joint Force success. This increased battlefield situational awareness provides crews with the information they need to make informed, timely decisions and increase combat effectiveness.

“We’re excited to take this capability into the future as part of the MAF Nexus program of record,” Wilsbach said. “We’re heading in the right direction, but we must move faster. We need reliable connectivity at the edge, so our warfighters can be most effective. For our force, that means our aircraft, both CAF and MAF, need to be fully integrated into battlefield networks.”

Wilsbach described how acquisitions and industry engagement must change to effectively modernize the force. He outlined that the Air Force needs open architectures that can be modified with data, software-defined systems that enable rapid improvement without hardware changes and depot maintenance, and pipelines capable of closing vulnerabilities and adding capabilities within hours, not months.

“We must adapt faster than our adversaries, give our people the tools to succeed and invest in the Airmen who continue to turn ideas into battlefield advantages,” Wilsbach explained. “When the nation needs to move at speed, sustain the fight, respond to crisis or project power across the globe, it looks to the MAF, and because of you, it can do so with confidence.”