According to a 13th Air Force spokesman in Hawaii, the contingent of F-22A Raptors flying from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, to Kadena AB, Japan, over the weekend returned to Hickam because “multiple aircraft” experienced a software problem involving the navigation system. The spokesman told the Daily Report that the F-22s should be back on their way to Okinawa soon. The Raptors are making their first overseas deployment, forming part of the now-routine rotation of aircraft deployed to bolster the Pacific Region’s strike force.
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.