Lockheed Martin officials maintain that a problem with the F-22A airframe revealed last December bears no “safety of flight risk” or reduction in the aircraft’s service life, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Company officials also said that the Air Force is well within its contractual rights to withhold nearly $60 million to inspect the 48 fighters affected by a flaw that could lead to cracking. Air Force officials earlier this year told lawmakers that they had not restricted flight for any F-22s because of a “misapplied” standard in heat-treating the titanium in the forward section of the airframe.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.