The Washington Air National Guard activated the 225th Air Defense Group during a ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to a Washington National Guard release. Established on May 2, it became the first air defense group in Washington Air Guard history, states the release. The 225th ADG, along with the newly redesignated 225th Air Defense Squadron and newly created 225th Support Squadron, comprise approximately 280 Washington air guardsmen who carry out the mission of protecting the airspace over the western United States in support of NORAD and US Northern Command. This region is NORAD’s Western Air Defense Sector. These changes structure WADS, a wing equivalent, more like other Air Force organizations, states the release. WADS is headquartered at McChord.
The Space Force’s work to establish a pool of at-the-ready commercial satellite capacity during a crisis is moving out of the pilot phase as the service prepares to award its next batch of contracts in 2026.
