F-22A Is Ready for Combat: During a formal presentation to herald initial operational capability for the new F-22A Raptor, Gen. Ronald Keys said, “If we go to war tomorrow, the Raptor will go with us.” The Air Combat Command chief plans to send 12 Raptors—the current number for a combat deployable package—to Alaska in June to participate in Northern Edge as the command continues to develop tactics and “growing and training” the first F-22 operational unit, the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Va.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff touted his highly unusual background for the job as an asset and reaffirmed his commitment to stay apolitical during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1.