Barring something unforeseen, the Air Force has ordered its last F-22s. On Oct. 29, the service let a $474 million contract to Lockheed Martin for the four F-22s that will constitute Lot 10 production and complete the program of record for 187 airframes based on current planning. Factoring the one production-version F-22 lost in a crash in 2004, the Air Force will have a force of 186 F-22s, smaller than ideal. Defense Secretary Robert Gates convinced Congress this year that the nation needs to stop buying F-22s and concentrate instead on bringing the F-35 into the inventory—even though, by the Pentagon’s own admission, the latter aircraft still may face some setbacks along the way. (For more on how the Air Force will use this smaller F-22 fleet, read The New Playbook from the September issue of Air Force Magazine.)
Space Force Is an ‘Equal Partner’ in CENTCOM, Commander Says
March 27, 2023
The Space Force's top commander for the Middle East faces a two-fold resource problem, he said March 27. But with the support of U.S. Central Command and the Space Force, Col. Christopher Putman hopes to grow his team to confront the myriad of challenges presented to the U.S. in the…