The Air Force has selected Holloman AFB, N.M. and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, to become homes to the new F-22A stealth fighter. The New Mexico Congressional delegation had been pressing for a new mission since USAF announced plans to advance the retirement of Holloman’s F-117s. They wanted the F-22A; they got it. Still to come, of course, are the required environmental assessments, but both facilities operate fighters now. Currently, the only operational F-22 base is Langley AFB, Va. USAF also plans to station Raptors at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…