During a speech an Air National Guard conference in Baltimore, Gen. Michael Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff, told the audience that USAF senior leaders had decided to re-designate the F/A-22 as just plain F-22. The move returns the new stealth fighter to its original pre-2002 designation. In September 2002, Air Force leaders heralded the addition of an “A” to emphasize its ground-attack capability. We are told that the switchback does not signify an end to pursuit of the Raptor’s ground-attack role. Watch this space for the formal announcement.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
