A contingent of F-22s and active duty airmen and Reservists from JB Elmendorf, Alaska, deployed in January to Kadena AB, Japan, for three months. This tour is part of a normal rotation of US combat forces in the western Pacific to maintain stability and is not a response to any specific situation, said Elmendorf officials. The contingent includes F-22s and pilots from the active duty 525th Fighter Squadron, maintainers from the 525th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and pilots and maintainers from Air Force Reserve Command’s 477th Fighter Group. The Reservists help operate the F-22s under a classic association. At Kadena, the Elmendorf airmen will generate daily sorties without having to fight the harsh Alaska winter weather. They will also train with other Air Force and Navy aircraft. Stars and Stripes reported that 15 F-22s were slated to deploy to Kadena. (Elmendorf report by Maj. Lisa Reaver)
The Senate passed its version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization bill late Oct. 9 with new language restricting retirements for B-1 bombers and E-3 AWACS. Now lawmakers from the House and Senate must set about resolving the differences between their two bills, which could lead to significant changes for…
