Reuters news service reported Sunday that the Air Force had delayed arrival of 12 F-22A Raptors at Kadena Air Base on the Japanese island of Okinawa. They were due to arrive over the weekend, following a temporary layover at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Air Combat Command’s 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Va., has deployed the new fighters and some 250 airmen for a three-month deployment as part of a now-routine strike package sent to bolster US Pacific Command forces. There was no word as to when the deployment would continue.
The Air Force has drastically reduced the number of eligible career fields for Active-Duty Airmen seeking reenlistment bonuses in 2026, going from 89 to 24.