Three Active Duty and Air National Guard fighters units rotated jets on routine theater security packages to bolster Pacific Air Forces in the Asia-Pacific region. Ten F-15E Strike Eagles from the 366th Fighter Wing left Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, bound for JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, May 30, according to a base release. At the same time, Hawaii-based F-22 Raptors are preparing to depart for Malaysia for Exercise Cope Taufan, alongside Massachusetts ANG F-15Cs, and Royal Malaysian Air Force jets, June 9-20, according to a release. A dozen F-16s from the District of Columbia and New Jersey ANG also deployed on a separate, shared-rotation to Kunsan AB, South Korea, on June 1, unit officials said in a release. “The deployment for us sends the signal that we are heavily postured in the region and we are committed to our partners,” said Lt. Col. Richard Dickens, commander of Mountain Home’s 391st Fighter Squadron.
The Air Force tanker fleet “did not meet” its availability and mission capable rate goals from fiscal 2019 to 2025, in large part because of parts shortages and delays fielding the KC-46 refueler, according to a Government Accountability Office report released June 10.