The Air Force accepted its 184th F-22 production fighter, leaving just three more F-22s to go to complete the service’s program of record. Raptor 4192 was delivered to JB Langley-Eustis, Va., its beddown location, after its acceptance on March 23 at prime contractor Lockheed Martin’s manufacturing plant in Marietta, Ga., according to the company. The Air Force expects to receive its three remaining F-22s by midyear. Aircraft 4195, the 187th and final production Raptor, began flight tests earlier this month in Marietta. Its delivery is planned after it completes flight tests by the end of May. When 4195 enters the fleet—it will be assigned to JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska—the Air Force will have 185 production jets in its inventory, since two have been lost in crashes to date. (Lockheed Martin photo and caption)
The Pentagon's research labs are ramping up their search for munitions that can be mass-produced—an effort likely to be buoyed by billions of dollars in the department's new fiscal 2027 budget request and tens of billions in the upcoming years. While the topline information shared about the President’s defense budget…