The Air Force’s premier fighter aircraft, along with more than 150 airmen from Langley AFB, Va., have traveled to Hill AFB, Utah, for the first deployment of an F/A-22 squadron. Air Combat Command sent Langley’s 27th Fighter Squadron, the initial operational F/A-22 Raptor unit, to Hill to test the unit’s ability to conduct operations in a “remote” environment. The 27th FS has deployed with pilots and maintainers, as well as intelligence and communications personnel. The goal: Determine whether ACC can declare IOC for the unit in December.
U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets are playing a prominent role in patrolling for threats as part of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.