Some of the F-15 Eagles assigned to Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, are getting an extended life courtesy of a $5.2 million upgrade program, called “Pride Dock.” Contractors and airmen with the 18th Maintenance Group at Kadena will inspect and replace peripheral items on the aircraft’s key systems such as flight controls, radar, tactical electronic warfare, and weapons. The Pride Dock work, officials say, will extend the life of the 27-year old airplanes by another 10 to 15 years. That’s the good news. The bad news you know already: The young-old Eagles will still be last generation fighters that are getting beat by newer foreign fighters.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
