F-22A Is Ready for Combat: During a formal presentation to herald initial operational capability for the new F-22A Raptor, Gen. Ronald Keys said, “If we go to war tomorrow, the Raptor will go with us.” The Air Combat Command chief plans to send 12 Raptors—the current number for a combat deployable package—to Alaska in June to participate in Northern Edge as the command continues to develop tactics and “growing and training” the first F-22 operational unit, the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Va.
The Air Force has spent more than two years studying cancer risks to Airmen who work with the service's intercontinental ballistic missiles. Now lawmakers in Congress are placing fresh scrutiny on the issue and have prepared legislation that would direct the service to clean silos and launch facilities.