Air Force Reserve Command’s 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, has sent off its last Block 30 F-16 fighters to other Reserve and Air National Guard units around the country. As we reported in April, the 419th is joining forces with the other F-16 unit at Hill, Air Combat Command’s 388th FW, which will own the aircraft both units fly and maintain. SrA. Daniel Durbin reports that the 388th is getting additional Block 40 Vipers to increase its fleet to more than 85 aircraft.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.