In response to current threat assessments, USAF is accelerating portions of its Increment 3.2 upgrade program for the F-22 fleet, senior service officials said Wednesday. “Increment 3.2 Accelerated” will be software-only enhancements that provide “significant additional electronic protection, Link 16 improvements, and a better combat identification capability,” wrote David Van Buren, USAF’s acting acquisition czar, and Lt. Gen. Phillip Breedlove, Air Staff point man for air, space, and information operations, plans, and requirements, in written testimony to the House Armed Services airland panel. Development of these new features should be completed in Fiscal 2013. At a later point, F-22s will receive the full Increment 3.2 upgrade, which includes even greater connectivity and self-protection as well as targeting improvements and the ability to employ the AIM-120D and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles. This increment will follow the Increment 3.1 modifications that the service intends to start fielding next fiscal year. (Van Buren-Breedlove prepared remarks)
Former AFCENT Commander Reflects on Lessons of Epic Fury
Sept. 13, 2026
Operation Epic Fury marked the U.S. military's largest air campaign in a generation, with strikes on 13,000 targets in Iran before the first in a series of shaky ceasefires began in April. Now, even as hostilities continue to flare up, Lt. Gen. Derek C. France sees several clear lessons that…
