Moseley stated that the Air Force is “within days” of announcing F-22 initial operational capability. Once that happens, Air Combat Command can deploy the fighter overseas. Moseley said he expects that to happen by early spring. His preferred first destination is the Pacific theater. The Chief said there’d be little value in deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan because there really is no role there now for an F-22. Taking the new fighter to the Pacific, he explained, would enable allies and the other services to get used to working with the F-22 and “seeing what it can do.”
Golden Dome Details Begin to Emerge
Dec. 7, 2025
The Golden Dome air and missile defense shield to protect the United States will have some “operational capability” in 2028, the program’s leader said Dec. 6 at the Reagan National Defense Forum.
