The Air Force can get seven combat-coded F-22 squadrons out of 183 aircraft, Gen. Michael Moseley, USAF Chief of Staff, told reporters. That is not enough to cover all 10 Air and Space Expeditionary Forces. However, Wynne explained that some of the later-vintage F-15Es and F-16s would still be around to fill out the 10 AEFs. The later F-15s have some “phenomenal” capabilities that will allow them to “partner” with the Raptors, Wynne said. Moseley added that J-UCAS—the joint unmanned combat aerial vehicle—is coming along, as are even more advanced combat UAVs.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
