The Air Force has selected Holloman AFB, N.M. and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, to become homes to the new F-22A stealth fighter. The New Mexico Congressional delegation had been pressing for a new mission since USAF announced plans to advance the retirement of Holloman’s F-117s. They wanted the F-22A; they got it. Still to come, of course, are the required environmental assessments, but both facilities operate fighters now. Currently, the only operational F-22 base is Langley AFB, Va. USAF also plans to station Raptors at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.