The Air Force on Dec. 14 received its 144th F-22 Raptor from prime contractor Lockheed Martin more than 17 days ahead of schedule, according to a Dec. 18 Air Force Materiel Command release. This Raptor is the first of Lot 8 under a money-saving multiyear contract that bundled the final 60 F-22s into a single contract. Lt. Col. Rob Strasser, F-22A Production Squadron commander at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, said, “Completing the first multiyear lot is a major milestone for the Air Force.” In October, the service let the final contract installment that will produce Lot 10, the final four Raptors in the 187 aircraft program of record.
The Air Force wants to “own and run” more of its air bases, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said Nov. 6, in what could be a major potential revamp the military’s joint base program. Speaking at the Airlift/Tanker Association’s 2026 Symposium, Wilsbach said he and the…