The operation to secure American airspace, largely flown by Air National Guard forces, is still going strong. NORAD spokesman Michael Kucharek says that since 9/11, ONE aircrews—fighters, tankers, and AWACS aircraft—have flown more than 40,000 sorties and responded to more than 2,100 events by scrambling fighters or diverting airborne patrols. This third leg of the War on Terror Triad—the other two are Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq—gets little attention these days, but the implications for USAF equipment and optempo is big. Also—small point—these aircraft would be of great value in event of another 9/11 type attack.
Hawaii F-22s Wrap Up Deployment to Japan
April 9, 2021
F-22s and Airmen from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, forward deployed to Japan for almost one month to train with Japanese and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft as part of a “dynamic force employment” operation. The Raptors from the Active-duty 19th Fighter Squadron and Air National Guard 199th Fighter Squadron deployed…