In training at Tyndall AFB, Fla., F-22As routinely take on six F-15s at once in mock dogfights—and the contest is still not even close, say Raptor pilots. Lt. Col. David Krumm, an F-22A instructor, told the Associated Press news service, that F-15 Eagle pilots are “the world’s best pilots.” So, he added, “It’s a startling moment for them to come down here and get waylaid.” The empathy is no doubt real, since current F-22 pilots flew F-15 and F-15E aircraft in their pre-Raptor days.
The Pentagon’s proposed budget for the Air Force in fiscal 2027 would include billions of dollars in additional spending on advanced next-generation fighters, trainer aircraft, hypersonic missiles and more. But an expert close to Air Force issues said the service’s asks are paltry compared to the massive $1.5 trillion topline…
