More than 100 US active and reserve airmen are in Inquique, Chile, working with Chilean airmen in the first exercise employing Chile’s new F-16s, reports Capt. Sarah Schwennesen. Chile also flies F-5s so aspects of Exercise WILLKA will feature dissimilar air training. From the US came F-16s from Air Force Reserve Command’s 301st Fighter Wing at NAS JRB Fort Worth, and KC-135s from the Arizona Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing at Phoenix.
Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force
Sept. 16, 2026
The Air Force will consider acquiring new F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to answer capacity shortfalls in its aging fighter fleet, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. These discussions are happening as the Air Force is building its proposed fiscal 2028 budget and the five-year spending plan that goes…


