According to Florida news reports, Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) was successful in adding a provision to the 2010 defense spending bill that just passed the House that would delay the start of F-15 removal from Tyndall Air Force Base until April 1. The Air Force had wanted to start the process on Jan. 1. Boyd and members of the Bay Defense Alliance met with service leaders last month to discuss the base’s shift from F-15 training to F-22 training—and, in the process, loss of one squadron. Many lawmakers in both houses of Congress have chided the Air Force over its planned early retirement of some 250 legacy fighters and want a detailed report on how it intends to cover, in particular, the air sovereignty alert mission. (Also read News Herald report; TV 7 report)
For years, sustainment challenges and spare parts shortages have hindered the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s readiness. But the Air Force’s experience flying F-35s heavily in operations against Iran have showed what the jet can be capable of, if maintainers get all the supplies and support they need.
