The Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing has picked up the air defense alert mission for the northeast, replacing the Massachusetts ANG’s 102nd Fighter Wing earlier than expected because of the grounding of the F-15 fleet, reports the Burlington Free Press. The F-16s of the Vermont Air Guard were to maintain the alert mission during the relocation of F-15s from the 102nd FW at Cape Cod to the 104th FW in western Massachusetts. The 104th FW is transitioning from A-10s to F-15s so would not be able to handle the alert mission for at least a year.
Air Force senior statesmen explained the reasons they jointly sent a letter to Congress urging restoration of the E-7 Wedgetail and more F-35s to the fiscal 2026 defense budget.