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 U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
