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.
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 billion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…