Engineers are looking to add an F-22 parking pad with apron space for 14 aircraft at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, announced the Army Corps of Engineers. The $10 million to $15 million project includes construction of a 15,000-square-yard concrete pad, aircraft rinse facility, and adjoining tarmac taxiways, according to the pre-solicitation documents. The corps intends to formally issue a request for proposals under a firm-fixed pricing arrangement at the end of the month. Once awarded, the project is scheduled to take roughly a year. F-22s assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron and active duty associate 19th FS arrived at Pearl Harbor-Hickam some 18 months ago. The units broke ground on a new F-22 maintenance facility on base last July.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.