F15-E Strike Eagles from the 492nd Fighter Squadron returned to RAF Lakenheath, England, on Oct. 20 at the conclusion of exercise Noble Arrow 16. About 30 US airmen supported the joint exercise between NATO allies UK and Portugal, which began on Oct. 8 and included air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-sea scenarios. “The US and NATO mutually share and value the principles of security, stability, and democracy for all alliance citizens in North America and Europe,” a pilot from the 492nd FS said, according to a press release. “This showcases the steadfast commitment the US has for its transatlantic partnership and maintaining our common defense.”
House lawmakers unveiled a new reconciliation package July 15 with $60 billion for defense, $290 billion less than the Pentagon has been seeking, a day after a Senate vote to advance the annual defense policy bill failed—developments that show the perilous state of the Pentagon’s ambitious plans for fiscal 2027.