On Tuesday morning, the full Senate voted to accept the Levin-McCain amendment to cut $1.75 billion Senate defense authorizers had added to the 2010 defense policy bill to keep F-22 production running beyond 187 Raptors. The vote was 58 to 40. That, of course, is not the end for F-22 proponents. Last month, the full House approved its version of the defense policy bill, complete with funding for additional F-22s. The House and Senate now will have to work it out in conference. Stay tuned.
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”