Two F-22s and a KC-135 from Tyndall AFB, Fla., recently arrived in Romania for training. Lt. Gen. Timothy Ray, commander of 3rd Air Force, said in a press release that the deployment is “a demonstration of our promise” to support Romania and other NATO allies. The F-22s will remain at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania for “a brief period of time” to show the aircraft’s flexible response and range of capabilities, then return to RAF Lakenheath, England, where they first arrived April 11 as part of the largest Raptor deployment to Europe so far. Gen. Frank Gorenc, commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, said it’s important for the US to test the infrastructure, the airmen, and the aircraft’s capabilities. The deployment “advances our airpower evolution,” Gorenc said, while showing US commitment to European security.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.
