Supporting Army Modernization in Wichita

This press release from Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) was published on 2026-09-29 and titled "Supporting Army Modernization in Wichita".

Supporting Army Modernization in Wichita

Urging Support for the Army's MV-75 Cheyenne II Aircraft This week, U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson and I led more than 80 of our Senate and House colleagues in urging Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought to support continued investment in the Army's MV-75 Cheyenne II program, which is manufactured by Bell Textron in Wichita. The MV-75 is a critical part of the Army's aviation modernization efforts, and Kansas plays an important role in bringing this next-generation aircraft to our soldiers with our workforce assembling the aircraft's fuselage. As the Army works to accelerate the MV-75 toward production, we emphasized the importance of providing the program with the resources necessary to keep it on schedule and safely deliver this capability to our warfighters. I will continue supporting the MV-75 and the Kansans helping build the future of Army aviation. You can learn more and read our full letter here . Chairing Senate Veterans' Affairs Hearing to Consider Nominations On Wednesday, I led a Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing to consider the nominations of the Honorable Maria C. Lopez to be Chair of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) and Robert R. Fleck, David M. Jones, Daniel F. Rendleman and James L. Quinn to be Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). These entities provide an important avenue for accountability and due process for veterans and their family members nationwide, and it is critical they are led by well-qualified professionals who are committed to making certain veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a timely manner. During the hearing, I discussed the recent increase of cases at BVA and CAVC, as well as the importance of increasing transparency in the appeals process to make certain veterans and other claimants have a clear understanding of the status of their appeal. The nominees agreed that the process could be improved and that more resources should be made available to veterans, survivors, caregivers, family members and others. Each of these nominees has an extensive record of public service in the military, the justice system, the Executive Branch and the U.S. Senate. I appreciated hearing from them, and I look forward to further considering their nominations in committee moving forward. You can watch my opening remarks here , and my questioning of the nominees here and here . Meeting with Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy Meink On Wednesday, I met with Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy Meink to discuss his recent visit to Kansas and the important role our state plays in strengthening America's national security. Secretary Meink visited Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), where they are developing critical sustainment improvements for the B-1B Lancer. We also discussed his visit to McConnell Air Force Base, where he saw the 22nd Air Refueling Wing's transition from the KC-135 to the KC-46A Pegasus and learned more about the 184th Wing's Point Defense Battle Lab and its work to strengthen our counter-UAS capabilities. In addition, Secretary Meink visited Spirit Defense during his time in our state to see firsthand the role Wichita's workforce is playing in supporting the B-21 and the future of our nation's bomber fleet. I was pleased to hear from Secretary Meink about his visit and will continue working to make certain the Air Force utilizes the unmatched capabilities and workforce Kansas has to offer. Urging the President to Withdraw Putin's Invitation to the G20 Leaders' Summit This week, the administration confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Miami this December. I joined a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues in urging President Trump to reconsider that invitation. President Putin continues to wage his brutal war against Ukraine while resisting efforts to reach a just and lasting peace. Inviting Putin to the U.S. to participate alongside other world leaders at the G20 sends the wrong message at a time when that pressure should be increasing. I support President Trump's efforts to bring an end to this war, and I was pleased he recently signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act into law, which I cosponsored, providing additional tools to hold the Putin regime accountable. Diplomacy will ultimately be necessary to achieve peace, but Russia should not receive business-as-usual treatment at international forums while Putin continues his unjust war against Ukraine. We urged President Trump to rescind Putin's invitation and prevent other sanctioned Russian officials responsible for the war from participating in upcoming U.S.-hosted G20 events until Russia agrees to a just and lasting peace. You can read our full letter here . Hosting Classified Briefing on U.S. Leadership in Space As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Ju