Key Facts at a Glance
| Specification | F-22 Raptor |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin, Boeing |
| Generation | 5th generation |
| Primary Mission | Air dominance, air superiority, multirole combat |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2 class |
| Supercruise | Above Mach 1.5 without afterburner |
| Combat Radius | Approximately 410 nautical miles, depending on mission configuration |
| Ceiling | Above 50,000 ft |
| Engines | 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 |
| Thrust | Approximately 35,000 lb class per engine |
| Radar | AN/APG-77 AESA |
| Electronic Warfare | AN/ALR-94 integrated electronic support system |
| Primary Air-to-Air Weapons | AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder |
| Internal Cannon | M61A2 20 mm |
| Production | 195 aircraft delivered |
| Current Inventory | About 184 aircraft in the U.S. Air Force fleet |
Executive Summary
The F-22 Raptor remains one of the most capable air-superiority fighters ever fielded by the United States. Designed around stealth, supercruise, advanced sensors, high maneuverability and internal weapons carriage, the aircraft was built to establish air dominance against sophisticated fighter and air-defense threats.
The central question behind searches such as how many F-22s does the U.S. have has a relatively clear answer, although inventory figures can vary according to accounting year and aircraft status. The U.S. Air Force has about 184 F-22s in its fleet in 2026, while 195 aircraft were produced and delivered during the program. Nine aircraft were used as test aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin’s production history, leaving the operational fleet smaller than the total production figure.
The F-22 has also been used in combat, beginning with strikes against ISIS targets in Syria in 2014. Despite combat deployments, no F-22 has been confirmed shot down in combat.
Image: U.S. Air Force. How Many F-22s Does the U.S. Have?
For the question how many f-22s does the us have, the most useful current figure is approximately 184 aircraft.
Air & Space Forces Magazine’s 2026 weapons-platform data lists the F-22 inventory at 184 aircraft. A June 2026 congressional development was particularly significant because the House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment that would keep all 184 Raptors in service until at least the end of fiscal 2032.
This figure should not be confused with the number originally manufactured.
The F-22 production program ended in 2011, with the final aircraft delivered to the Air Force in May 2012. Lockheed Martin states that 195 F-22s were delivered, including aircraft used for testing.
Therefore:
Question Answer How many F-22s were built? 195 How many F-22s does the U.S. have? About 184 in the 2026 inventory How many F-22s are operationally combat coded? Fewer than the total inventory because some aircraft are assigned to test, training or other roles How many F-22s have been shot down? No confirmed combat losses The difference between production and current inventory reflects aircraft attrition, testing, accidents and fleet accounting rather than exports. The F-22 has never been offered as a conventional foreign military sales fighter.
How Many F-22s Were Built?
The answer to how many f 22s were built is 195 aircraft.
Production began after years of development and testing, with the first F-22 flight taking place in 1997. The Air Force declared the aircraft operational in December 2005. The final Raptor was delivered on May 2, 2012.
Of the 195 aircraft delivered, Lockheed Martin identified 187 as operational fleet aircraft and eight as test aircraft at the time of final delivery.
The relatively small production run is strategically important. Unlike the F-35, which was designed for large-scale international production and operation, the F-22 was developed primarily as a high-end U.S. air-superiority platform.
How Many F-22s Are There?
The question how many f-22s are there can produce different answers depending on whether the question concerns aircraft ever produced, current inventory or combat-capable aircraft.
The most useful distinction is:
195 F-22s were produced and delivered, while about 184 remain in the U.S. Air Force inventory in 2026.
Not every aircraft in the inventory should be treated as immediately available for combat. Maintenance, modernization, training, testing and aircraft availability affect the number that can be generated for operational missions at any particular time.
The fleet also includes different modernization configurations. Earlier Block 20 aircraft have significantly less combat capability than the more heavily upgraded Block 30 and Block 35 Raptors.
F-22s Airframe and Stealth Design
The F-22s design combines stealth with aerodynamic performance rather than treating low observability as a separate feature.
Its airframe uses carefully aligned edges, internal weapon bays, shielded engine faces and extensive radar-absorbent materials to reduce radar returns. The exact radar cross section of the Raptor is classified, so publicly available numerical RCS claims should be treated cautiously.
The internal weapons arrangement is particularly important. Keeping missiles and bombs inside the fuselage reduces external stores that would otherwise increase radar signature and aerodynamic drag.
The aircraft also uses serrated or carefully shaped access panels and doors, while its engine exhaust and inlet design contribute to its low-observable characteristics.
Avionics and Sensor Fusion
The F-22’s core advantage is not simply its radar.
The AN/APG-77 AESA radar provides long-range detection and tracking while supporting low-probability-of-intercept operations. The aircraft also incorporates the AN/ALR-94 electronic support system, which provides passive detection and characterization of electromagnetic emissions.
Together with the aircraft’s mission computers and other sensors, these systems create a highly integrated tactical picture for the pilot.
The original F-22 configuration did not include a conventional internal IRST sensor comparable to systems developed for some newer fighters. However, current modernization efforts are adding new infrared sensing capabilities. In 2026, the Air Force is continuing development and testing of infrared search and track targeting systems, alongside defensive infrared missile-warning improvements.
F-22s Propulsion and Performance
The F-22 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofan engines, each producing approximately 35,000 pounds of thrust in the thrust class identified by the Air Force.
The engines incorporate two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles, allowing the aircraft to control pitch through exhaust-vectoring authority in addition to aerodynamic control surfaces.
The aircraft is rated at Mach 2 class speed and can supercruise at speeds above Mach 1.5 without afterburners. Supercruise allows the Raptor to maintain supersonic flight with lower fuel consumption and a smaller infrared signature than sustained afterburner operation.
How Many F-22s Have Been Shot Down?
The answer to how many f 22s have been shot down is zero confirmed combat losses.
The F-22 has conducted combat operations. Its first combat use came in September 2014, when Raptors participated in U.S.-led strikes against ISIS targets in Syria. F-22s later supported operations in the region, including protection missions during the April 2018 strikes against Syrian chemical-weapons facilities.
In February 2023, an F-22 also gained a highly publicized air-to-air kill when it fired an AIM-9X against a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon off the South Carolina coast. That was not a fighter-versus-fighter engagement, but it demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to conduct an unusual high-altitude intercept.
No F-22 has been confirmed destroyed by an enemy aircraft or surface-to-air missile in combat.
Modernization and Strategic Outlook
The F-22 is now entering a different phase of its service life. The aircraft remains strategically important, but the fleet is aging and the Air Force is simultaneously developing the F-47 and next-generation air-dominance architecture.
Current modernization includes Increment 3.2B, sensor enhancements, improved electronic warfare capabilities, infrared defensive systems, Link 16 networking and new range-extension concepts. Low-drag external fuel tanks and pylons are also being tested to increase range while limiting the impact on the aircraft’s aerodynamic and stealth characteristics.
The Air Force previously sought to retire 32 older Block 20 aircraft, but congressional opposition has repeatedly complicated that plan. In June 2026, the House Armed Services Committee moved to prohibit F-22 retirements through fiscal 2032, potentially preserving the entire 184-aircraft fleet for longer than earlier Air Force planning anticipated.
Unlike some modern fighters, the F-22 has no international customer roadmap. U.S. law and policy have prevented its export, making international F-22 operators nonexistent.
Conclusion
The F-22s Raptor remains a uniquely important U.S. air-superiority asset despite its relatively small fleet.
The clearest answers to the major questions are straightforward: 195 F-22s were built, about 184 remain in the U.S. Air Force inventory, and no F-22 has been confirmed shot down in combat. The aircraft has nevertheless seen real combat, including operations over Syria and the 2023 high-altitude balloon intercept.
Its combination of stealth, supercruise, thrust vectoring, AESA radar, electronic warfare and internal weapons carriage continues to give the F-22 a powerful role in contested airspace.
The central challenge is now fleet age. The Air Force is investing in upgrades while preparing for the next generation of air dominance. The result is a fighter that remains highly relevant, but one whose long-term future depends on modernization decisions, fleet availability and the arrival of its successor.
F-35C And F-22 Train Against Complex Air Defenses
The F-35C Lightning II and F-22 Raptor operated together during Red Flag Alaska 26-3, where U.S. forces trained against simulated peer and near-peer threats, complex air defenses and battlefield disruptions. The exercise ran from Aug. 14 to Aug. 18 and represented the third and final Red Flag Alaska iteration of 2026.
Takeaways
F-35C Lightning II and F-22 Raptor fighters trained together against simulated peer threats and complex air defenses during Red Flag Alaska 26-3.
The fighter force included F-35Cs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, and F-22s from the Air Force’s 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. An E-3 Sentry from the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, also participated.
The combination placed two different fifth-generation fighter types within a larger air battle framework supported by airborne command and control. The training was designed to move beyond individual aircraft proficiency toward coordinated operations in a contested environment.
Why Red Flag Alaska Matters
Red Flag Alaska uses the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which covers approximately 120,000 square miles of airspace. The range allows U.S. and partner forces to progress from individual tactical skills to large-scale engagements involving multiple aircraft and mission areas.
The size of the training area is particularly important for air combat exercises because it allows forces to practice operations across greater distances rather than limiting engagements to a small training box.
The Air Force said Red Flag Alaska 26-3 brought together 79 aircraft from 10 units across the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. The exercise concluded Aug. 28 after two weeks of realistic combat training, although the F-35C and F-22 activity highlighted in this report took place Aug. 14 to Aug. 18.
F-35C And F-22 Bring Different Strengths
The F-35C is the carrier-capable variant of the F-35 family. The U.S. Navy describes the F-35C as a fifth-generation aircraft with stealth, enhanced lethality and survivability, a robust communications suite and the ability to employ internal or external weapons.
The F-22, meanwhile, was developed primarily around air dominance. The Air Force identifies stealth, supercruise, maneuverability and integrated avionics as core characteristics of the Raptor. Its sensor and avionics architecture is designed to provide pilots with a high level of situational awareness while operating against advanced air threats.
That difference is important when considering the value of combined training.
The exercise was not simply about placing two stealth fighters in the same formation. It provided an opportunity to practice how different aircraft, sensors, weapons and command-and-control systems function together when the battlespace becomes increasingly difficult to manage.
Aircraft Primary Service Key Training Relevance F-35C Lightning II U.S. Marine Corps Stealth, sensing, networking and carrier-capable multirole operations F-22 Raptor U.S. Air Force Air dominance, stealth, supercruise and advanced air combat E-3 Sentry U.S. Air Force Airborne command and control Training Included Battlefield Disruptions
One of the more significant elements of Red Flag Alaska 26-3 was its designation as a Special Technical Operation exercise.
According to the exercise organizers, scenarios introduced operational disruptions intended to replicate conditions associated with peer and near-peer conflicts. These included non-kinetic effects designed to disrupt coordination and complicate operations.
That matters because modern air warfare is not limited to aircraft engaging aircraft or missiles engaging targets.
A major air operation depends on communications, data exchange, command networks, navigation, sensors and decision-making. If those functions become degraded or disrupted, pilots and commanders must continue operating with incomplete or delayed information.
The exercise therefore tested an important part of modern air combat readiness: the ability of a force to maintain coordinated operations when its normal information flow is under pressure.
The Role Of The E-3 Sentry
The participation of an E-3 Sentry added another layer to the training.
The E-3 is an airborne command-and-control platform that can support the broader air picture. Its presence alongside F-35Cs and F-22s reflects the reality that air dominance operations normally depend on more than fighter aircraft alone.
The operational value comes from connecting different capabilities into a functioning force. Fighters provide combat power, while airborne command and control can help coordinate the wider engagement.
This type of integration becomes increasingly important as forces operate across larger areas and against opponents equipped with advanced sensors, aircraft, electronic warfare systems and air-defense networks.
Complex Air Defenses Remain A Major Challenge
Red Flag Alaska 26-3 specifically required participants to coordinate joint and coalition operations against complex air-defense systems. The exercise combined multiple effects to train forces to overcome those threats in a contested environment.
For fifth-generation aircraft, the challenge is not simply achieving low observability.
Stealth can reduce an aircraft’s detectability, but modern air-defense networks can combine multiple sensors, communications links and weapons systems. Training therefore has to account for the wider system rather than treating an air-defense battery as an isolated target.
This makes large-force exercises valuable. Pilots can practice the interaction between aircraft, command-and-control assets and other supporting capabilities while facing simulated disruptions.
The F-22’s air-dominance role is particularly relevant in this context. The Air Force says the aircraft combines stealth, integrated avionics and supercruise to support operations against advanced air threats.
The F-35C brings a different set of capabilities, including stealth, advanced sensing and networking. The Marine Corps aircraft therefore contributes to the broader force rather than functioning only as a conventional strike platform.
What The Exercise Says About Joint Air Operations
The most important lesson from the training is the emphasis on integration.
The F-35C and F-22 are operated by different U.S. military services and were designed around different primary missions. Yet a real contingency would require them to function as parts of the same air campaign.
Red Flag Alaska creates a controlled environment where those relationships can be tested repeatedly.
The exercise also included allied and partner participation across its broader 2026 schedule. Red Flag Alaska 26-2, for example, involved more than 70 aircraft and approximately 2,100 personnel from U.S. and partner nations.
That multinational element matters for Pacific operations, where U.S. forces could be required to operate alongside allied aircraft and other joint capabilities across large distances.
The Broader Pacific Relevance
Alaska’s geography gives the training environment particular relevance to Pacific air operations.
The Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex provides a large overland training area where forces can practice operations at a scale that is difficult to reproduce at smaller ranges. Pacific Air Forces describes Red Flag Alaska as a venue for realistic deployed-environment training, interoperability and contingency response.
For the United States, that supports a broader readiness requirement: maintaining the ability to generate and coordinate combat airpower under contested conditions.
The exercise does not prove how the aircraft would perform in an actual conflict. Instead, its value lies in giving crews and supporting units the opportunity to identify problems, refine procedures and improve coordination before those capabilities are required operationally.
What Comes Next For Fifth-Generation Integration
The U.S. Air Force is also moving toward a future force in which fifth-generation fighters operate alongside newer systems and autonomous aircraft.
In June 2026, the Department of the Air Force announced contracts connected with development and production of its first-generation Collaborative Combat Aircraft, while also establishing a competitive market for mission-autonomy software.
That development increases the importance of exercises that test not only individual aircraft but the ability of different platforms to share information and perform complementary missions.
Red Flag Alaska 26-3 provides a current example of that approach. F-35Cs, F-22s and an E-3 operated within a scenario that included simulated advanced air defenses and disrupted battlefield conditions.
For U.S. air forces, the objective is increasingly broader than mastering a single aircraft. It is building the ability to operate a connected force when an adversary is actively trying to disrupt that force.
Bottom Line
The F-35C and F-22 training during Red Flag Alaska 26-3 demonstrated the continuing U.S. emphasis on integrated air operations against sophisticated threats.
The exercise combined fifth-generation fighters, airborne command and control, complex simulated air defenses and Special Technical Operations effects inside one large training environment.
Its significance is less about a particular simulated engagement and more about the operational problem being addressed: how to maintain air combat effectiveness when advanced defenses and battlefield disruptions make coordination harder.
That remains a central requirement for U.S. airpower in the Indo-Pacific and other contested theaters.
Spain A330 MRTT Procurement Moves Toward Final Contracts
Spain A330 MRTT procurement plans with Poland have reached a major milestone after Madrid approved a seven-year framework agreement valued at an estimated €5.4 billion for the joint acquisition of Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft.
The Spanish Council of Ministers approved the framework on August 25, 2026. The agreement covers the aircraft as well as the logistics and support required to bring them into service. It also incorporates Poland’s participation through the European Union’s Security Action for Europe, or SAFE, financing instrument.
Takeaways
Spain has approved a €5.4 billion framework with Poland for at least seven Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft, with four planned for Poland by 2030.
The framework is not itself the final aircraft purchase contract. Spain and Poland still need to negotiate and sign the implementing agreements that would authorize individual orders.
Poland is expected to receive four aircraft by 2030, while three aircraft are planned for Spain under the current arrangement. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has described the planned acquisition as at least seven aircraft.
€5.4 Billion Framework Covers Aircraft and Support
The Spanish government says the framework has an estimated value of €5.4 billion and will remain in force for seven years after formalization.
Importantly, that figure should not be treated simply as the unit price for seven aircraft. The framework also covers logistical support needed to place the aircraft into operational service, while the final contracts will determine the precise procurement arrangements.
The arrangement gives Poland a path toward establishing its own national air-to-air refueling capability. Until now, Poland has had to rely on allied tanker assets for this type of support.
That capability is particularly relevant as Poland expands its combat aircraft fleet. Polish officials have previously linked the tanker requirement to the operational needs of its F-35 fleet, with aerial refueling allowing fighters to remain airborne longer and operate farther from their bases. Janes reported in June that Poland was already in the final stages of discussions over an MRTT acquisition financed through SAFE.
A330 MRTT Provides More Than Air Refueling
The Airbus A330 MRTT is designed as a multi-mission aircraft rather than a tanker dedicated only to refueling.
Based on the commercial A330 platform, the aircraft can conduct aerial refueling while also supporting strategic transport, passenger movement, cargo operations and medical evacuation.
Airbus says the aircraft has a fuel capacity of 111 tonnes and can be configured with both a refueling boom and underwing hose-and-drogue systems. This allows it to support a broad range of aircraft used by different air forces.
The aircraft can therefore function as a strategic enabler for fighter operations while retaining significant airlift utility.
That flexibility is important for European air forces that are expanding combat aviation fleets but also need additional support aircraft to sustain operations over longer distances.
MRTT+ Could Offer Additional Efficiency
The exact configuration of the aircraft for the Spanish-Polish procurement has not been fully confirmed.
However, reporting has pointed to the possibility of Airbus offering the newer A330 MRTT+ configuration, which incorporates technology from the A330-800neo commercial aircraft. Aviation Week reported that the procurement could involve the latest MRTT configuration, although the final aircraft specification remains subject to the procurement process.
Airbus says the A330 MRTT+ uses Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, revised aerodynamics and updated wingtip technology. These changes are intended to reduce fuel consumption by up to 8 percent compared with the earlier configuration.
The MRTT+ also raises maximum takeoff weight from 233 tonnes to 242 tonnes, providing additional flexibility for fuel, payload and range.
For Poland, the potential acquisition would add a capability that directly supports long-range combat aviation and strategic mobility.
EU SAFE Financing Supports Joint Procurement
The Spanish-Polish arrangement also demonstrates how the EU SAFE instrument is being used to support major defense acquisitions.
SAFE provides up to €150 billion in EU loans for defense investment. The program is designed to encourage member states to conduct common procurement and strengthen Europe’s defense industrial base.
Air-to-air refueling and strategic airlift are specifically identified as eligible strategic capabilities under the SAFE framework.
The common procurement requirement is significant. SAFE is intended to encourage cooperation between European countries, helping reduce duplication and fragmentation while supporting larger procurement programs.
In Spain’s case, the framework with Poland fits that model by combining national requirements into a joint acquisition.
Spain itself has already been granted access to up to €1 billion in SAFE loans under a February 2026 EU Council decision. Poland has also been approved for SAFE financial assistance, creating a broader funding framework for defense procurement by both countries.
What the Deal Means for Poland
For Poland, the most immediate benefit is the creation of a dedicated tanker capability.
The Polish Air Force has undergone a major modernization program centered on new combat aircraft and supporting systems. The addition of A330 MRTTs would address one of the less visible but important requirements of that modernization effort: keeping fighters supplied with fuel during extended operations.
A tanker fleet can also support deployments away from Poland, strategic mobility and wider NATO operations.
The planned delivery of four aircraft by 2030 would give Warsaw a national capability rather than requiring it to depend entirely on multinational tanker arrangements.
The move also fits Poland’s broader defense investment strategy, which has placed substantial emphasis on combat aircraft, air defense, long-range fires and other high-priority capabilities.
Spain Strengthens Its Existing MRTT Fleet
Spain is already an A330 MRTT operator.
The Spanish Air and Space Force operates three converted A330 aircraft, giving Madrid experience with the platform and its associated support infrastructure.
The new framework could therefore expand an existing national capability while creating a common procurement relationship with Poland.
The industrial dimension is also important. Airbus Defence and Space performs the conversion of A330 aircraft into MRTT tankers at its Getafe facility near Madrid, giving Spain a significant role in the aircraft’s European production and support ecosystem.
The joint procurement could consequently support both national operational requirements and Spain’s position within Europe’s defense aerospace industry.
Final Contracts Remain the Next Major Step
The Spanish government approval represents a procurement milestone, not the completion of the aircraft purchases.
The framework establishes the basis for the joint acquisition, but individual implementing contracts still have to be negotiated and signed.
The number of aircraft, final configuration, delivery schedule and other contractual details will therefore become clearer as the procurement moves forward.
For Poland, the key target remains delivery of four MRTTs by 2030. For Spain, the framework provides a mechanism to acquire additional aircraft while sharing the procurement structure with another European operator.
More broadly, the agreement shows how SAFE is beginning to translate EU-level defense financing into specific multinational procurement projects.
The A330 MRTT is particularly suited to that approach because aerial refueling and strategic airlift are capabilities that can provide benefits beyond the country operating the aircraft.
As European air forces expand their fighter fleets and seek greater ability to operate across the continent and beyond, tanker aircraft are becoming an increasingly important part of the supporting force structure.
Danish F-35 Precision Strike Training
Danish F-35 pilots have conducted live precision strike training with 500-pound and 2,000-pound laser and GPS-guided bombs at the Oksbøl shooting and training area, according to the Danish Armed Forces. The exercise, reported Aug. 28, involved not only pilots but also weapons specialists and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, providing training across the full process of a precision airstrike.
Takeaways
Denmark has used live 500-pound and 2,000-pound laser and GPS-guided bombs to train its F-35 force in realistic precision strike operations.
The training is significant because it moves beyond simulated weapons employment and gives Danish personnel practical experience with live munitions, aircraft loading procedures, target coordination and weapon delivery under realistic range conditions.
The Danish Armed Forces said the exercise involved precision attacks against ground targets. The targets were retired and environmentally cleared, allowing live weapons to be used under controlled conditions.
500-Pound and 2,000-Pound Weapons
The exercise used two broad bomb weight classes, 500 pounds and 2,000 pounds. Danish Defence documentation for Oksbøl identifies the Mk 82 500-pound class and Mk 84 2,000-pound class among the aircraft bomb types authorized for range activities, although the latest Danish report does not identify the specific weapon models used in this particular F-35 event.
The latest exercise also involved laser and GPS-guided weapons. These guidance methods give aircrews different options depending on the target, mission conditions and available targeting information.
Laser-guided weapons rely on laser designation to provide terminal guidance toward a designated target. GPS-guided weapons use satellite navigation, normally combined with an inertial navigation system, to guide the weapon toward programmed coordinates.
That distinction matters operationally. GPS-guided weapons are well suited to targets whose locations can be accurately established before the strike, while laser guidance can provide a flexible option when a target can be designated during the engagement.
Training the Entire Strike Chain
One of the most important aspects of the Danish exercise was that the training did not stop with the pilot.
According to the Danish Armed Forces, personnel practiced the complete sequence involved in using live weapons, beginning with bomb assembly and preparation, followed by loading the weapons onto F-35 aircraft and ending with delivery against the designated target.
This type of training is essential for maintaining an operational strike capability. A precision strike depends on more than aircraft performance. Weapons handling, mission planning, targeting, communications, aircrew procedures and post-strike safety all have to work together.
For Denmark, this also provides an opportunity to develop the support infrastructure needed to operate the F-35 as a combat system rather than simply as a fighter aircraft.
The F-35 program depends heavily on the integration of sensors, mission systems, weapons and information networks. Lockheed Martin describes the aircraft’s sensor suite as supporting precision targeting, navigation, threat detection and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions.
JTACs Add the Ground-to-Air Element
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers were another central part of the Oksbøl training.
JTACs are trained to identify and designate targets and coordinate air support with aircraft crews. During the Danish exercise, target designation could be conducted with laser equipment or through radio communications, according to the Danish Armed Forces.
The inclusion of JTACs makes the exercise particularly relevant to joint operations. In a real combat environment, an F-35 may receive information from multiple sources, including forces operating on the ground, other aircraft and command networks.
Practicing these interactions helps ensure that pilots and ground personnel use common procedures before they are required to operate together in an actual conflict.
The training also highlights an important characteristic of modern airpower. The effectiveness of a fifth-generation fighter is increasingly tied to the wider force around it, including sensors, communications, targeting teams, weapons crews and command structures.
Why Live Weapons Training Matters
The Danish Armed Forces specifically emphasized the value of training with live weapons even when personnel regularly practice weapon employment in simulators. Live weapons introduce practical factors that cannot be completely reproduced in a virtual environment.
Those factors include physical weapon handling, aircraft loading, safety procedures, coordination between maintenance and weapons personnel, and the actual release of a munition against a designated range target.
For an emerging F-35 operator, that experience is part of the broader process of building combat readiness.
Photo: Lockheed Martin. Denmark received its first F-35 fighters in 2023. The Danish Defence says the aircraft reached the point of supporting the national air policing mission in 2025, while its current milestone plan identifies 2027 for full implementation and participation in selected international missions.
The Oksbøl exercise therefore fits into a longer progression from aircraft delivery and pilot conversion toward a more complete operational capability.
Denmark’s Expanding F-35 Force
Denmark is also increasing the size of its planned F-35 fleet.
The Danish government and parliamentary parties agreed in 2025 to acquire another 16 F-35 aircraft, increasing the planned Danish fleet to 43 aircraft. The acquisition is part of Denmark’s wider defense modernization program under its 2024 to 2033 Defence Agreement.
The larger fleet gives Denmark greater capacity to maintain aircraft for training, national readiness, international deployments and other missions at the same time.
It also increases the importance of weapons training. A larger F-35 fleet requires a corresponding ability to generate qualified aircrews, weapons specialists, maintainers and mission-support personnel.
The Broader NATO Context
Denmark’s F-35 development is taking place within a broader NATO effort to integrate fifth-generation aircraft across Europe.
Danish F-35s participated with Norwegian, Italian and U.S. F-35 aircraft during Ramstein Flag 2026, an exercise designed to strengthen fifth-generation fighter integration and demonstrate the ability of allied aircraft to operate across dispersed locations.
Denmark has also participated in international F-35 training activities, including the multinational Weapons Instructor Course in the Netherlands earlier in 2026.
These activities provide a larger operational context for the Oksbøl live weapons event. The objective is not simply to qualify individual pilots to drop bombs. It is to develop an air force capable of integrating its F-35s into multinational operations while maintaining national readiness.
What the Oksbøl Exercise Demonstrates
The most important takeaway from the Danish F-35 precision strike training is the emphasis on complete mission execution.
The exercise combined the aircraft, live precision weapons, weapons personnel, pilots, JTACs and a controlled target environment. That combination provides a more realistic test of the systems and procedures required to conduct an air-to-ground mission.
The exercise also demonstrates that Denmark is continuing to build practical experience with the F-35 rather than relying solely on simulator-based training.
For NATO, that matters because the value of a fifth-generation aircraft depends partly on how effectively it can operate with other forces. Danish participation in multinational F-35 exercises, combined with domestic live weapons training, helps build the procedures and personnel skills required for that role.
The Oksbøl event was therefore a training activity rather than a new weapons announcement. Its importance lies in the operational proficiency being developed around Denmark’s growing F-35 fleet.
Key Facts
Category Details Aircraft F-35 Lightning II Operator Royal Danish Air Force Training location Oksbøl Shooting and Training Area, Denmark Weapons 500-pound and 2,000-pound guided bombs Guidance Laser and GPS guidance Training Live precision strike Ground element Joint Terminal Attack Controllers Targeting Laser designation and radio coordination Training scope Weapon preparation, aircraft loading and delivery Planned Danish F-35 fleet 43 aircraft Bottom Line
Denmark’s latest F-35 exercise at Oksbøl shows the country’s fifth-generation fighter program moving further into practical live weapons employment.
The use of 500-pound and 2,000-pound guided bombs, combined with JTAC coordination and full weapons-handling procedures, provided training across the broader precision strike chain.
As Denmark expands its F-35 fleet to 43 aircraft and continues integrating with other NATO F-35 operators, this type of live training will remain an important part of developing a deployable and interoperable combat capability.
B-2 Spirit Demonstrates Precision Strike Capability in Nevada
The U.S. Air Force used two B-2 Spirit stealth bombers for live-fire precision strike training at the Nevada Test and Training Range on Aug. 3, 2026, demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to integrate long-range bomber operations with terminal attack and command-and-control elements. The event was documented by Nellis Air Force Base and the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
Takeaways
The U.S. Air Force used two B-2 Spirit bombers for live-fire precision strike training at the Nevada Test and Training Range, integrating bomber crews with joint terminal attack controllers.
The aircraft were assigned to the 325th Weapons Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. Personnel from the 66th Weapons Squadron provided command and control during the training, while joint terminal attack controllers and bomber aircrews worked together during the live-fire event.
The U.S. Air Force described the exercise as an opportunity to demonstrate precision strike capabilities in a realistic training environment. The released video shows B-2 aircraft dropping munitions over the Nevada range, but the publicly released material does not identify the specific weapons used.
What the Training Demonstrates
The significance of the event extends beyond the B-2’s ability to release weapons. Precision strike missions depend on the integration of aircraft, weapons, communications, targeting information and personnel operating at different points in the kill chain.
The presence of the 66th Weapons Squadron is particularly relevant. Official imagery shows Lt. Col. Ridge Flick, commander of the 66th Weapons Squadron and lead joint terminal attack controller, communicating with the two B-2 aircraft during the live-fire training.
That relationship illustrates an important element of modern air operations: the bomber is one component of a larger strike architecture. The ability to execute a precision attack depends not only on aircraft survivability and weapons, but also on accurate target information, command relationships and reliable communications.
The training therefore provides a useful look at how the Air Force practices the coordination required for complex strike operations without revealing sensitive operational tactics.
Why the Nevada Test and Training Range Matters
The Nevada Test and Training Range, operated in support of Nellis Air Force Base, is one of the Air Force’s principal environments for advanced combat training, operational test and evaluation, and tactics development.
Nellis says the range provides more than 15,000 square miles of airspace and 4,700 square miles of restricted land. The Air Force also states that more than 75 percent of its live training munitions are dropped on the range.
This scale allows aircraft and weapons crews to conduct training that would be difficult to reproduce at conventional ranges. The available airspace supports complex scenarios involving multiple aircraft, ground controllers and other operational elements.
For the B-2 community, such training is important because the aircraft is designed for long-range conventional and nuclear missions and is intended to operate against heavily defended targets. The Air Force identifies penetration of sophisticated air defenses as a central feature of the B-2’s low-observable design.
B-2 Spirit: Key Capabilities
The B-2 remains one of the United States’ most specialized long-range strike aircraft. Its design combines a flying-wing configuration, composite materials and other low-observable technologies intended to reduce radar, infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic and visual signatures.
According to the Air Force’s current fact sheet, many details of the B-2’s low-observable technology remain classified. The publicly available specifications provide the following baseline information:
Capability B-2 Spirit Primary role Multi-role heavy bomber Crew Two pilots Engines Four General Electric F118-GE-100 Thrust 17,300 pounds per engine Maximum takeoff weight 336,500 pounds Payload Up to 60,000 pounds Wingspan 172 feet Length 69 feet Ceiling 50,000 feet Unrefueled range Approximately 6,000 nautical miles Speed High subsonic Mission types Conventional and nuclear These specifications explain why the B-2 remains relevant to U.S. long-range strike planning. Its combination of range, payload and low observability allows the aircraft to perform missions that require both substantial weapon capacity and a reduced probability of detection.
Precision Strike Is More Than Weapon Accuracy
The Nevada training event also highlights an important distinction in modern air warfare. A precision weapon is only one part of a precision strike capability.
A successful strike requires the target to be identified and located accurately, the appropriate authority to approve the engagement, the aircraft and weapon to receive reliable information, and the crew to execute the mission under the required rules and constraints.
The integration of the 325th Weapons Squadron and 66th Weapons Squadron therefore matters as much as the visible weapons release. The exercise tested the interaction between the bomber force and personnel responsible for directing and coordinating the strike.
This is particularly important for penetrating aircraft. A B-2’s low observability is intended to improve survivability, but the aircraft still operates as part of a wider command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance architecture.
The Nevada range provides a controlled environment where these relationships can be trained repeatedly without requiring an operational combat mission.
The B-2’s Role During the B-21 Transition
The B-2 training also comes as the Air Force prepares to expand the B-21 Raider fleet.
Air Force Global Strike Command’s 2026 bomber fact sheet states that the B-21 is expected to replace the B-1B and B-2, with initial capability planned for 2028. Until the B-21 is fully fielded, the command says it will continue balancing modernization and sustainment of the existing bomber fleet while maintaining readiness.
The Air Force is simultaneously expanding B-21 production capacity. In February 2026, the Department of the Air Force announced an agreement with Northrop Grumman to increase production capacity for the next-generation bomber, using $4.5 billion in previously authorized and appropriated funding.
That transition does not make current B-2 training less important. Instead, it creates a period in which the Air Force must keep the existing penetrating bomber force operational while building the infrastructure, workforce and training system required for the next-generation aircraft.
Whiteman Air Force Base is part of that transition. The Air Force has selected the Missouri installation as the second main operating base for the B-21, alongside its existing role as the home of the B-2 force.
What the Training Says About U.S. Strike Readiness
The most important takeaway from the Nevada event is not the weapons release itself. It is the continued emphasis on realistic, integrated training for a small but highly specialized bomber force.
The Air Force’s publicly released material confirms that two B-2 aircraft conducted live-fire operations, while the 66th Weapons Squadron provided command and control and joint terminal attack controllers worked with the bomber crews.
That combination reflects the broader direction of U.S. airpower, where individual platforms increasingly operate as nodes within a connected force rather than as independent weapons systems.
For the B-2, this remains particularly relevant because its value comes from the combination of penetration, range and weapons capacity. Maintaining proficiency in the entire strike process is essential while the Air Force moves toward a future bomber fleet centered on the B-21 and B-52.
The Aug. 3 training therefore represents a routine but strategically important component of bomber readiness. It demonstrates that the B-2 fleet continues to train for precision strike missions while the Air Force prepares the next generation of penetrating long-range aircraft.
UK Helicopter Forces Face Growing Support Requirements
The UK helicopter forces support deal is being developed by the Ministry of Defence to provide additional engineering, logistics and other specialist personnel at three British military aviation locations.
The planned requirement is valued at approximately £37 million excluding VAT, or £44.4 million including VAT. The proposed arrangement would support the Support Helicopter Force and Commando Helicopter Force at RAF Odiham, RAF Benson and RNAS Yeovilton.
Takeaways
The UK is preparing a £37 million support requirement aimed at strengthening engineering, logistics and aviation support for its helicopter forces.
The procurement comes as the UK continues to invest in the availability and modernization of its rotary-wing fleet while facing constraints in some military engineering and logistics functions.
Five-Year Contract Planned
The proposed £37 million helicopter support contract is expected to begin on November 1, 2027, and run through October 31, 2032.
The Ministry of Defence is also planning an option that could extend the arrangement for another two years, potentially taking the contract through October 2034.
The formal tender is currently expected to be published on December 1, 2026. The MOD intends to use a competitive flexible procurement procedure.
Importantly, the planned contract does not establish a fixed number of personnel or guaranteed volume of work.
Instead, the requirement is structured around outputs. The contractor would provide qualified personnel capable of supplementing military staff when service capacity is constrained.
This approach would allow the MOD to adjust contractor support according to flying schedules, maintenance workloads, readiness requirements and other operational demands.
Engineering And Logistics Are Central To The Requirement
The planned UK helicopter forces support deal covers several functions that directly influence aircraft availability.
These include aviation engineering, logistics information systems, airworthiness records, supply activities and other enabling functions. The procurement also covers engineering support services, helicopter repair and maintenance support, and wider air transport support services.
The requirement is particularly focused on areas where the MOD says military workforce capacity is limited.
Rather than permanently assigning a fixed number of contractors to specific posts, the planned arrangement would allow personnel and resources to move between requirements as operational conditions change.
That flexibility could be important for a helicopter force because maintenance demand is not constant. Flying programs, scheduled servicing, unexpected repairs, training cycles and operational commitments can all affect the workload placed on engineering and logistics teams.
The procurement notice therefore calls for support that can respond to changes in workload across functions, locations and time.
Three Locations Will Receive Support
The contract is intended to support three important UK military aviation locations.
RAF Odiham is a major base for the RAF’s heavy-lift helicopter capability and is associated with the Chinook fleet.
RAF Benson supports the UK’s medium-lift battlefield helicopter capability.
RNAS Yeovilton is the principal base for the Commando Helicopter Force and provides aviation support to Royal Marines operations and wider littoral missions.
Together, these locations represent important elements of Britain’s rotary-wing force structure.
The proposed support arrangement is intended to improve aircraft availability, maintenance throughput, logistics resilience and airworthiness assurance across the three sites.
Wider Investment In British Helicopter Capability
The proposed procurement forms part of a broader period of investment in Britain’s military helicopter capability.
In April 2026, the UK Ministry of Defence awarded Boeing Defence UK a three-year, £879 million contract covering maintenance and support for British Army Apache attack helicopters and RAF Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. The arrangement combines support for both fleets under the Rotary Wing Enterprise and is expected to support more than 1,000 UK jobs.
The MOD has also committed major funding to the New Medium Helicopter program.
In March 2026, Leonardo UK was selected for a £1 billion contract to provide 23 new medium-lift helicopters based on the AW149. The program is intended to consolidate several medium-lift requirements and support more than 3,300 jobs in Yeovil and thousands more across the UK supply chain.
These investments show that the UK’s helicopter modernization effort involves more than acquiring new aircraft. Sustainment, engineering, logistics, training and industrial capacity remain important parts of maintaining operational readiness.
Support Is Being Expanded Alongside New Capabilities
The UK is also pursuing changes in how helicopters operate with emerging autonomous systems.
In May 2026, the MOD announced £10 million in funding for Project NYX, an Army program developing uncrewed aircraft intended to operate alongside Apache attack helicopters. Four companies were selected to develop competing concepts, with up to two expected to proceed to prototype development.
The UK subsequently included Project NYX in a wider drone investment program announced in June 2026. The government said up to 24 autonomous armed drones could become operational by 2030 to operate alongside upgraded Apache helicopters for missions including reconnaissance, precision strike and electronic warfare.
That development adds another layer to the support challenge facing Army aviation. Future helicopter operations are likely to involve a broader mix of crewed aircraft, uncrewed systems, digital mission equipment and supporting infrastructure.
What The £37 Million Requirement Means
The planned UK helicopter forces support deal should not be interpreted as the purchase of additional helicopters.
Instead, it is primarily a personnel and support-services requirement designed to supplement existing military capacity.
The distinction is important. The procurement notice states that the MOD will retain responsibility for directing and assuring Defence outputs, while contractors provide qualified personnel and services to help meet those outputs.
The contract also does not guarantee a fixed workload for the eventual supplier. Historic workload information and planning assumptions will be used as guidance, but actual demand will be shaped by operational and maintenance requirements.
For the UK military, the practical objective is to have enough engineering, logistics and support capacity available when aircraft and units require it.
Outlook
The next major step will be the publication of the formal tender, currently expected in December 2026.
Until that process is completed, the £37 million figure remains an estimated procurement value rather than an awarded contract. The final scope, supplier and precise level of contractor support will depend on the competition and subsequent contracting process.
The requirement nevertheless highlights a broader issue facing modern military aviation: aircraft availability depends not only on the platforms themselves, but also on the people, engineering systems, logistics networks and airworthiness infrastructure needed to keep them operational.
For Britain’s Support Helicopter Force and Commando Helicopter Force, the proposed arrangement is intended to provide additional capacity where military manpower is constrained while allowing support to shift as operational requirements change.
That makes the planned contract an important sustainment measure within the UK’s wider effort to maintain helicopter readiness while modernizing its rotary-wing forces.
Takeaways
Key facts from the F-15 Eagle Crest contract
1. $131.23 Billion Contract Ceiling
The Air Force awarded Boeing an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum ceiling of $131.23 billion for F-15-related work.
2. No Aircraft Were Ordered at Award
The contract establishes a framework for future orders. The award notice did not include an order for a specific number of F-15 aircraft.
3. Work Extends Through 2037
The contract covers production, modernization, upgrades, retrofits, sustainment and organic depot maintenance capabilities through August 2037.
4. Seven Foreign Customers Are Listed
The contract involves Foreign Military Sales cases involving Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Poland.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $131.23 billion ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract covering production, modernization, upgrades, retrofits and sustainment of the F-15 fighter family. The contract also establishes organic depot maintenance capabilities and supports both U.S. and foreign customers.
According to the U.S. Department of War contract announcement dated Aug. 24, 2026, the award was made to Boeing through a sole-source acquisition for the F-15 Eagle Crest program. The work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to continue through August 2037.
The size of the contract ceiling is significant, but it should not be interpreted as $131.23 billion already committed to Boeing. The IDIQ structure provides the government with a framework under which future orders can be placed over time. Only $343,740 in fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funding was obligated when the contract was awarded.
What the Contract Covers
The F-15 Eagle Crest contract brings several categories of F-15 work under one acquisition framework.
The official notice lists:
- Aircraft production
- Systems integration
- Modernization
- Upgrades
- Retrofits
- Sustainment
- Establishment of organic depot maintenance capabilities
The work supports the Air Force, Air National Guard and other Department of War customers. The contract also incorporates Foreign Military Sales requirements for seven countries.
The ordering period is expected to run through Aug. 24, 2031, with an option allowing the period to be extended to Aug. 24, 2036. The overall contract is expected to be completed by August 2037.
Importantly, the Aug. 24 award did not include an order for a specific number of F-15 aircraft. Future production or modernization requirements can therefore be placed through subsequent orders under the contract.
Technical and Operational Context
The F-15 family remains an important part of U.S. tactical aviation, while the F-15EX Eagle II represents the current production version being acquired by the Air Force.
Air Force budget documents describe the F-15EX as a multirole fighter based on the two-seat F-15QA configuration and equipped with U.S.-specific capabilities. The aircraft incorporates systems including the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System, or EPAWSS, and an open mission systems architecture.
The Air Force’s fiscal 2027 procurement documentation lists F-15EX missions including defensive and offensive counter-air operations, homeland defense and operations in highly contested environments. The documents also indicate that F-15EX procurement and modernization activities extend into the early 2030s.
The new Eagle Crest framework is broader than simply buying new F-15EX aircraft. Its inclusion of modernization, retrofit and sustainment work allows the government to address different requirements across the aircraft’s lifecycle.
Why the Award Matters
One important feature of the contract is its support for organic depot maintenance.
Under this approach, Air Force depots will gain the capability to conduct heavy maintenance and overhaul work on F-15 aircraft rather than depending exclusively on the original equipment manufacturer. Boeing will perform the contracted work in St. Louis, while the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, serves as the contracting activity.
From an acquisition perspective, consolidating production, modernization, sustainment and depot-support activities into a long-term framework can give the service greater flexibility when requirements change. However, the contract ceiling itself does not establish how much of that potential value will ultimately be ordered.
The F-15EX program is also moving into a period of expanded procurement. Air Force fiscal 2027 budget documents show that the program’s overall procurement quantity can reach 268 aircraft when additional reconciliation-funded aircraft are included.
The aircraft is also being prepared for expanded operational use. In June 2026, F-15EX aircraft from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, for integration and familiarization activities ahead of the aircraft’s longer-term role there.
Contract Breakdown
Contract Value
The maximum contract ceiling is $131.23 billion.
That figure represents the potential value of orders that can be placed under the IDIQ contract. It is not an immediate $131.23 billion expenditure or obligation.
Only $343,740 in fiscal 2026 RDT&E funding was obligated at the time of award.
Contractor
Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, received the award through a sole-source acquisition.
Contract Type
The award is an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, commonly known as an IDIQ.
An IDIQ contract establishes the framework for future government orders without requiring the government to purchase the entire potential contract value when the framework is established.
Work Locations
The official contract notice identifies St. Louis, Missouri, as the work location.
Performance Period
The contract is expected to be completed by August 2037.
The ordering period is expected to end Aug. 24, 2031, with an option to extend the ordering period through Aug. 24, 2036.
Funding
The initial obligation consists of $343,740 in fiscal 2026 RDT&E funding.
The announcement did not identify a corresponding aircraft production order at the time of award.
Options or Follow-On Work
The contract allows orders to be placed through Aug. 24, 2031, with an option to extend the ordering period to Aug. 24, 2036.
Future aircraft production, upgrades, modernization, sustainment and other work would be ordered under the contract as requirements are established and funded.
Industry and Acquisition Implications
The award gives the Air Force a long-term contracting mechanism for maintaining and developing the F-15 fleet while supporting continued production of the F-15EX.
The foreign military sales component is also notable. The contract identifies Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Poland as participating foreign customers.
Several of these countries already operate F-15 aircraft, while Indonesia and Poland are not current F-15 operators. The contract notice does not specify the individual quantities or configurations associated with each country’s FMS requirements.
Israel is already purchasing new F-15 aircraft from Boeing’s St. Louis production line. The fiscal 2027 F-15EX Selected Acquisition Report cited by Defense News identified a December 2025 agreement covering 25 F-15IA aircraft, with an option for another 25.
The broader production environment also remains relevant to the U.S. program. Air Force documentation reported that a 2025 strike at Boeing’s St. Louis facility interrupted F-15EX production, while subsequent Air Force reporting described efforts to resume deliveries and recover from the disruption.
What Happens Next
The next steps will come through individual orders placed against the Eagle Crest contract.
The Aug. 24 contract announcement does not specify the number of new aircraft to be purchased under the award, nor does it provide a detailed schedule for future production or modernization orders. Those details will become clearer as the Air Force places funded orders against the contract.
The long-term framework is expected to support F-15 production and sustainment through 2037, while the ordering authority can remain available until 2031 or, if exercised, 2036.
For the F-15EX program specifically, Air Force procurement documents show continued aircraft acquisition and modernization funding into the early 2030s, while operational units are preparing for the aircraft’s expanded role, including at Kadena in Japan.
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The Freedom 250 Grand Prix flyover brought together U.S. stealth fighters and a long-range stealth bomber in a highly visible demonstration of American airpower.
B-2 Spirit Leads Freedom 250 Grand Prix Flyover
A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit joined F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor fighters over Washington, D.C., during the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, providing a public demonstration of the aircraft and capabilities that underpin the United States‘ long-range and fifth-generation airpower. Official Air Force imagery identified a formation consisting of one B-2, two F-35A Lightning II aircraft, two F-22 Raptors and four U.S. Marine Corps F-35B aircraft.
The flyover took place in connection with the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an event held in Washington as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The U.S. Air Force described the military participation as a way to connect the armed forces with the American public.
The formation itself was ceremonial rather than a combat mission. Its significance, however, extends beyond the spectacle because the aircraft represent several distinct elements of the U.S. air combat architecture.
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What the B-2 Brings to the Formation
The B-2 Spirit remains one of the U.S. Air Force’s most specialized long-range combat aircraft. The service describes it as a multirole bomber capable of delivering conventional and nuclear weapons while using low-observable technology to penetrate sophisticated air defenses.
The aircraft’s flying-wing configuration, composite construction and specialized coatings reduce multiple signatures, including radar, infrared, acoustic and electromagnetic signatures. The Air Force states that many details of the B-2’s low-observable technology remain classified.
The B-2 also has the endurance required for intercontinental operations. The Air Force lists an unrefueled range of approximately 6,000 nautical miles and a maximum payload of 60,000 pounds. The aircraft has a two-person crew and four General Electric F118 engines.
B-2 Spirit characteristic U.S. Air Force figure Primary role Multirole heavy bomber Crew 2 Engines 4 × F118-GE-100 Wingspan 172 feet Maximum takeoff weight 336,500 pounds Payload 60,000 pounds Unrefueled range Approximately 6,000 nautical miles Maximum altitude 50,000 feet Speed High subsonic Current Air Force inventory 20 aircraft, including 1 test aircraft These figures are current to the Air Force fact sheet dated May 2026.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});F-35 and F-22 Add Different Fighter Capabilities
The inclusion of the F-35 and F-22 is significant because the two fifth-generation fighters were designed around different primary operational priorities.
The F-35A is a multirole fighter built around stealth, sensor fusion and situational awareness. Its sensor architecture includes the Distributed Aperture System and Electro-Optical Targeting System, while its communications and data links allow information to be shared with other aircraft and forces.
The F-22 Raptor, by contrast, was developed primarily as an air-dominance fighter. The Air Force highlights its combination of stealth, integrated avionics, maneuverability and supercruise, allowing the aircraft to sustain supersonic flight without afterburners under appropriate conditions.
The different designs are complementary. In a high-end operational environment, an F-22’s principal value lies in controlling the air domain and countering airborne threats, while the F-35 can contribute sensing, targeting, information sharing and multirole strike capabilities.
The eight-fighter element seen in the Washington formation therefore represented more than a collection of modern aircraft. It showed the distinct roles assigned to stealth fighters within a broader airpower system.
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Why the B-2 and Fifth-Generation Fighters Matter Together
The B-2’s long-range penetrating mission and the fighters’ ability to operate in contested airspace address different parts of the same operational problem.
A modern air campaign against a capable opponent requires aircraft to locate threats, establish and maintain air superiority, penetrate defended areas, deliver weapons and exchange information across the force. No single aircraft needs to perform every one of those functions.
The B-2 is particularly important because its value comes from the combination of range, payload and low observability. Its design allows the bomber to conduct missions where a conventional large aircraft could face greater detection and engagement risks. The Air Force describes this penetrating capability as central to the B-2’s role against sophisticated defenses.
The F-35 adds a different advantage. Its sensors and data links are designed to collect and distribute information across the battlespace, making it an important node in joint and coalition operations.
The F-22 contributes another layer through air dominance. Its stealth, supercruise and maneuverability are intended to improve its ability to operate against advanced airborne threats while reducing the opportunities for adversaries to detect and engage it.
This combination illustrates why modern U.S. airpower increasingly depends on aircraft working as a force rather than operating as isolated platforms.
The B-2’s Role in the U.S. Bomber Force
The Washington flyover also comes as the United States continues transitioning its bomber force for future operations.
The Air Force’s 2026 bomber capability information describes the B-2 as a long-range nuclear and conventional stealth bomber, while the B-21 Raider is being developed as the future penetrating strike aircraft that will form the backbone of the bomber force alongside the B-52.
That transition does not make the B-2 irrelevant. The aircraft remains an operationally important part of the existing penetrating bomber fleet, while its design experience provides context for understanding the requirements of the next-generation B-21.
The Air Force currently lists 20 B-2 aircraft in the active inventory, including one test aircraft. That small fleet makes each operational aircraft a high-value national asset, particularly for missions requiring a combination of stealth and long-range strike capacity.
A Public Demonstration With Strategic Context
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix flyover should not be interpreted as an operational deployment or evidence of a specific military mission. It was a public event conducted to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and showcase U.S. military aviation.
Nevertheless, the aircraft selected for the formation carried clear strategic symbolism. The B-2 represented long-range penetrating strike, the F-22 represented air dominance and the F-35 represented networked fifth-generation multirole combat power.
Official U.S. Air Force imagery also documented a separate tri-bomber formation involving a B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress over Washington on Aug. 23, demonstrating the broader role of Freedom 250 events in showcasing the U.S. bomber force.
Earlier Freedom 250 events likewise featured B-2 and F-35 formations above the National Mall. On June 24, the Air Force documented a B-2 leading four F-35A aircraft over Washington.
Taken together, these appearances provide a public view of the U.S. approach to airpower: long-range bombers, stealth fighters, air-dominance aircraft and other supporting capabilities operating within a larger force structure.
What the Flyover Shows About U.S. Airpower
The most important takeaway from the Freedom 250 formation is not simply the presence of several famous aircraft over Washington. It is the contrast in their designed functions.
The B-2 provides penetrating long-range strike capacity and substantial weapons carriage. The F-22 is designed to establish air dominance in contested environments. The F-35 provides stealthy multirole operations while using advanced sensors and data links to connect information across the force.
That combination reflects a broader U.S. emphasis on integrated air operations. Future combat environments are expected to place greater demands on survivability, information sharing, stand-off weapons, electronic warfare and long-range strike, making coordination between different aircraft types increasingly important.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix flyover was therefore a ceremonial event, but the platforms involved represented capabilities that remain central to U.S. airpower planning. The B-2 continues to provide a penetrating bomber capability today, while the F-35 and F-22 provide complementary fifth-generation fighter capabilities across the air domain.
Takeaways
The U.S. Navy has disclosed the AIM-424 Malice, a new long-range air-to-air missile designed to extend the engagement range of current and future naval fighters.
U.S. Navy Reveals AIM-424 Malice Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile
The AIM-424 Malice is the U.S. Navy’s newly disclosed long-range air-to-air missile, with an officially stated range of more than 250 nautical miles, or 463 kilometers. The Navy identified the weapon as the Long Range Air-to-Air Missile, or LRAAM, and lists Raytheon as its contractor.
The Navy publicly disclosed the program at the Tailhook Symposium in Reno, Nevada, on August 22, 2026, before adding the AIM-424 to its official Fact Files. The service says the missile is intended to strengthen fleet defense and provide greater reach, survivability and tactical flexibility against advanced air threats.
The disclosure is significant because the AIM-424 is being designed across multiple generations of naval aircraft. The Navy identifies fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation platforms as potential users, including the F/A-18, F-35 and future F/A-XX.
AIM-424 Malice Specifications
The Navy has released a limited but important set of technical specifications.
Specification AIM-424 Malice Primary function Air-to-air missile Contractor Raytheon Propulsion Solid-propellant rocket motor Length 13.5 feet, 4.11 meters Diameter 13.5 inches, 0.34 meters Wingspan 26.2 inches, 0.67 meters Weight 1,500 pounds, 680.4 kg Stated range More than 250 nautical miles, 463 km Warhead Blast fragmentation Intended aircraft F/A-18, F-35, F/A-XX Generation compatibility Fourth, fifth and sixth generation These figures come directly from the Navy’s AIM-424 fact sheet. The service has not released a public operational timeline or a complete description of the missile’s guidance and seeker systems.
A Much Larger Weapon Than the AIM-120
The physical dimensions of the AIM-424 show the engineering tradeoff behind its long-range mission.
At 13.5 feet in length and 1,500 pounds, Malice is considerably larger than the AIM-120 AMRAAM used by U.S. and allied fighters. The additional size provides considerably more volume for propulsion, control systems and other components needed for long-range flight, but it also creates integration challenges for aircraft that must carry the weapon internally or on external stations.
The Navy’s own imagery shows the AIM-424 associated with both the F/A-18E Super Hornet and F-35C. A Navy image released in August shows the missile installed in the F-35C’s internal weapons bay, demonstrating that internal carriage is part of the program’s aircraft integration effort.
That point matters for the F-35C. Internal carriage preserves the aircraft’s low-observable configuration, allowing a long-range weapon to be carried without relying exclusively on external pylons that can increase radar signature.
The F/A-18E/F, meanwhile, offers greater external carriage flexibility. Recent Navy imagery has shown test aircraft carrying multiple AIM-424 training or test missiles, indicating that flight testing has already progressed beyond a purely conceptual stage.
What the 250-Nautical-Mile Range Means
The Navy’s stated range of more than 250 nautical miles places the AIM-424 in a different class from conventional medium-range air-to-air weapons.
Range alone, however, does not determine the effective combat envelope of a missile. Actual engagement performance depends on launch conditions, altitude, speed, target maneuvering, seeker performance, guidance updates, electronic warfare conditions and the amount of energy remaining when the missile reaches the target area.
For that reason, the Navy’s 250-plus nautical mile figure should be treated as a published maximum range indicator rather than a guarantee that every target can be engaged at that distance.
The operational value is instead the ability to give naval aviators more options before entering the threat envelope of opposing aircraft or air-defense systems. A longer-range weapon can potentially allow a fighter to remain farther from an adversary while still contributing to an engagement.
That becomes particularly relevant to carrier aviation, where aircraft must operate from mobile platforms that can be exposed to increasingly long-range surveillance and strike systems.
Built for the F/A-18, F-35C and F/A-XX
The Navy explicitly identifies the AIM-424 as a weapon for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation platforms. That makes it more than a replacement weapon for a single fighter type.
The F/A-18E/F remains a major component of carrier aviation. The Navy’s 2025 year-in-review publication said the Super Hornet fleet is expected to continue operating into the 2040s, while the Navy’s sixth-generation strike fighter will eventually augment and replace the Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler.
The F-35C adds another important dimension. Its stealth characteristics and sensor architecture provide a different method of employing long-range weapons, particularly when the aircraft can detect, track or receive targeting information without exposing itself unnecessarily.
The future F/A-XX is expected to become another major carrier-based platform for the weapon. Navy aviation planning describes F/A-XX as a sixth-generation fighter intended to bring greater range, speed and sensor capability to the carrier air wing while operating alongside unmanned systems.
A common long-range missile across these aircraft could therefore provide continuity as the carrier air wing transitions between generations.
AIM-424 and the U.S. Long-Range Air Combat Requirement
The AIM-424 is emerging alongside other U.S. efforts to extend air-to-air engagement ranges.
The Navy has already introduced the AIM-174B Gunslinger, an air-launched adaptation of the SM-6 family, while the Navy and Air Force are also pursuing the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile. The emergence of Malice indicates that the U.S. is pursuing multiple long-range air-to-air options rather than relying on a single weapon architecture.
The distinction between these weapons is important. The AIM-424 is specifically described by the Navy as an LRAAM intended for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft, while the AIM-174B is derived from a larger surface-to-air missile family and provides a different combination of range and platform integration.
The AIM-260, meanwhile, is intended to provide a next-generation tactical air-to-air capability for U.S. fighters. The continued development of all three reflects the importance the U.S. military places on long-range air combat.
Why the Missile Matters for Carrier Aviation
The central issue for the Navy is not simply missile range. It is the changing geometry of combat in the Indo-Pacific.
Potential adversaries are developing aircraft, sensors and weapons that can threaten carrier air wings at increasingly long distances. A carrier-based fighter therefore needs to detect, identify, target and engage threats without necessarily approaching the range at which the opposing force can effectively attack the carrier or supporting aircraft.
A weapon such as Malice can contribute to that requirement by extending the reach of the fighter itself.
The Navy describes the program in terms of maintaining a first-look, first-shot and first-kill advantage. In practical terms, that concept depends on more than the missile. It requires a complete chain involving sensors, data links, airborne networking, electronic warfare, targeting information and reliable weapon guidance.
This makes aircraft integration particularly important. A very long-range missile has limited value if the launching aircraft cannot obtain a sufficiently accurate track, maintain the required data exchange or defeat electronic countermeasures during the engagement.
Internal Carriage Creates an Important F-35C Challenge
The F-35C presents a particularly demanding integration problem because the aircraft’s internal weapons capacity is constrained by bay dimensions and aerodynamic requirements.
The Navy’s released imagery indicates that the AIM-424 has been fitted into an F-35C weapons bay. That is an important development because the missile’s 13.5-foot length and 13.5-inch diameter make it a large weapon for internal carriage.
The integration effort will have to balance missile size against the aircraft’s internal weapon capacity, separation safety, flight characteristics and mission configuration.
If the AIM-424 can be carried internally without major restrictions, it could allow the F-35C to combine low-observable operations with substantially longer-range air-to-air effects. The Navy has not yet published enough information to determine the final operational loadout or restrictions.
What Remains Classified
The Navy has provided the missile’s basic dimensions, weight, propulsion type, warhead and range, but many of the characteristics that determine actual combat performance remain undisclosed.
Those include the specific seeker technology, guidance architecture, datalink capabilities, terminal engagement characteristics, maximum speed, no-escape-zone performance and resistance to electronic countermeasures.
The Navy has also not announced an operational deployment date. Defence Industry Europe reported that further details on specific capabilities and deployment timelines remain classified for operational security reasons.
That makes it premature to describe Malice as an operational replacement for an existing missile. The available information establishes that the Navy is developing the system and has conducted aircraft integration activity, but it does not establish an initial operational capability date.
A Decade-Long Development Path
The AIM-424 appears to have roots in earlier U.S. work on very-long-range air-to-air weapons.
Aviation Week reporting cited by Defence Industry Europe connects the program with a Long Range Engagement Weapon concept disclosed in 2017. Earlier budget documentation described a two-year technology demonstration before the technology was transferred to the military services.
That history helps explain why the Navy is now able to disclose an apparently mature weapon rather than a purely conceptual design.
Recent reporting has also identified flight-test activity involving F/A-18E aircraft and integration work with the F-35C. A Navy photograph shows the weapon associated with an F/A-18E test aircraft, while another image shows an AIM-424 in an F-35C weapons bay.
The public evidence therefore points to a program that has moved into aircraft integration and testing, although the Navy has not disclosed the complete test schedule or milestones.
Strategic Implications for U.S. Airpower
The most important feature of Malice is its combination of range and platform flexibility.
A missile designed for Super Hornets, F-35Cs and the future F/A-XX can potentially provide a common long-range air-to-air effect across several stages of the Navy’s fighter modernization plan.
For carrier aviation, that could reduce the gap between today’s force and the future air wing. The Super Hornet can provide near-term capacity, the F-35C brings stealth and advanced sensing, and F/A-XX is being developed for the next generation of carrier air combat.
The AIM-424 does not solve the broader challenge of long-range air warfare by itself. Its effectiveness will depend on the aircraft carrying it, the quality of the targeting network and the ability of the entire force to operate inside heavily contested electromagnetic and air-defense environments.
What the disclosure does show is that the Navy is placing substantial emphasis on increasing the reach of its carrier-based air-to-air weapons.
AIM-424 Malice: What Is Confirmed
Based on the Navy’s official fact sheet and publicly released imagery, the following points are confirmed:
- The weapon is designated AIM-424 LRAAM.
- Its official name is Malice.
- Raytheon is the contractor.
- The Navy lists its range as more than 250 nautical miles, or 463 kilometers.
- It uses a solid-propellant rocket motor.
- It has a blast-fragmentation warhead.
- It is 13.5 feet long.
- Its diameter is 13.5 inches.
- Its wingspan is 26.2 inches.
- Its listed weight is 1,500 pounds.
- It is intended for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft.
- The Navy identifies the F/A-18, F-35 and future F/A-XX as intended platforms.
- The Navy has not announced an operational deployment timeline.
Conclusion
The U.S. Navy’s disclosure of the AIM-424 Malice marks a significant addition to its long-range air-to-air weapon portfolio.
With an officially stated range beyond 250 nautical miles and planned compatibility with F/A-18E/F, F-35C and F/A-XX aircraft, the missile is designed to extend the reach of naval aviation as the carrier air wing moves toward a more distributed and networked combat model.
The weapon is still under development, and key information about its seeker, guidance system, speed, engagement envelope and deployment schedule remains unavailable. Those details will ultimately determine how the AIM-424 fits alongside the AIM-120, AIM-174B and AIM-260.
For now, the Navy’s disclosure establishes the core fact: the United States is developing a large, long-range air-to-air missile specifically intended to give naval fighters substantially greater reach against advanced air threats.
Takeaways
Ukraine has codified the Dovbush T40, a domestically produced long endurance unmanned aircraft designed for deep reconnaissance, fire adjustment and precision strike missions.
Ukraine Codifies Dovbush T40 Long Range Drone
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has codified the domestically produced Dovbush T40 drone, adding a strategic-level unmanned aircraft with a stated range exceeding 2,000 kilometers to the country’s defense inventory. The ministry says the system is intended for deep reconnaissance, artillery fire adjustment and precision strikes against targets far from the front line.
The announcement, made August 17, represents another step in Ukraine’s expansion of domestically developed long range unmanned systems. According to the ministry, the T40 can remain airborne for more than 24 hours and has sufficient operational range to reach targets beyond the Urals and in western Siberia.
The reported capabilities are significant because the T40 is not described solely as a one way attack drone. Ukraine says its configuration can support reconnaissance, fire correction and precision strike missions, allowing the same basic aircraft to perform different roles depending on its equipment and payload.
Dovbush T40 Specifications and Stated Capabilities
Capability Dovbush T40 Type Strategic-level unmanned aircraft Stated range More than 2,000 km Endurance More than 24 hours Wingspan Nearly 5 meters Primary missions Deep reconnaissance, fire adjustment, precision strike Strike configurations Munition release or one way attack Radar characteristics Ultra-low radar signature, according to Ukraine Propulsion High-performance engine with electronic fuel injection Electronic warfare Ministry reports significant resistance to EW The figures above come from Ukrainian Ministry of Defence statements reported following the system’s codification. Independent information on payload weight, cruising speed, operating altitude, communications architecture and production rate has not been publicly detailed in the available official material.
That distinction matters. A stated maximum range is not necessarily the same as the combat radius available when an aircraft carries a particular payload, flies a mission profile involving loitering, or encounters adverse weather and electronic warfare conditions.
More Than 24 Hours of Endurance Changes the Mission Set
The T40’s reported endurance is one of its most important characteristics.
An aircraft capable of remaining airborne for more than 24 hours can perform missions that require substantially more time than a conventional short-range tactical UAV. It can potentially remain available for reconnaissance, wait for target information, adjust its mission and provide extended observation without requiring an immediate return to its launch area.
For artillery operations, long endurance can also support persistent observation and fire correction. Ukraine says the T40 is designed specifically for fire adjustment as well as deep reconnaissance and precision strikes.
The combination of range and endurance also gives the platform greater mission flexibility. An aircraft does not have to spend its entire available range simply traveling toward a target. Endurance can instead provide additional time for surveillance or route adjustments before an engagement.
Low Radar Signature and Electronic Warfare Resistance
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry says testing identified an ultra-low radar signature and significant resistance to electronic warfare as advantages of the T40.
Both characteristics are particularly important for a long range UAV operating in an environment where air defense systems and electronic warfare networks can extend far beyond the immediate battlefield.
A reduced radar signature can make detection more difficult, although the ministry has not released a radar cross-section measurement or detailed information about the aircraft’s materials, shaping or flight profile.
Likewise, the statement that the system is resistant to electronic warfare does not establish immunity to jamming or other forms of electronic attack. The actual level of resilience would depend on factors such as navigation, communications, frequency management, autonomy and the specific threat environment.
Those details remain undisclosed.
Engine and Payload Architecture
The T40 uses what Ukraine describes as a high-performance engine equipped with an electronic fuel-injection system. The ministry has not publicly identified the engine manufacturer or provided detailed propulsion specifications.
Ukraine also says the aircraft can be configured for different types of missions.
One configuration can release munitions against designated targets, while another can operate as a one way attack system. This gives the platform a broader operational role than a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft.
The modular approach is particularly relevant to Ukraine’s wartime procurement model, where a single airframe can potentially support multiple mission requirements while manufacturers incorporate battlefield feedback into successive versions.
From Dovbush T20 to the T40
The Dovbush T40 is part of an evolutionary development path rather than an isolated Ukrainian UAV program.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry says the same manufacturer has produced the Dovbush T20 and Kotyhoroshko unmanned systems, both of which have been used on the battlefield since 2022. The ministry describes the T20 as a medium-range system for reconnaissance, real-time artillery fire adjustment and precision strikes.
The T40 extends that concept into a substantially longer-range aircraft.
This development model reflects a wider feature of Ukraine’s defense industry during the war: combat employment provides manufacturers with direct operational feedback, which can then be incorporated into new designs. In the T40’s case, the result is a larger platform intended to combine surveillance and strike functions with much greater endurance and range.
Why the T40 Matters for Ukraine’s Deep Strike Capability
The most important aspect of the Dovbush T40 is not any single specification. It is the combination of range, endurance, reconnaissance capability and strike flexibility in a domestically produced system.
Ukraine has increasingly invested in long range unmanned systems that can operate well beyond the immediate battlefield. The T40 fits that broader development path by extending the distance at which Ukrainian forces can conduct reconnaissance and potentially deliver effects.
The reported ability to reach areas beyond the Urals and into western Siberia also illustrates the geographic scale of the capability claimed by Kyiv. However, the ministry’s statement should be treated as a description of stated performance rather than independent confirmation of successful combat missions at those distances.
For defense planners, the larger lesson is the growing importance of relatively low-cost unmanned aircraft in long-range operations. Such systems can provide additional options alongside more expensive cruise missiles and crewed aircraft, particularly when persistence and mission flexibility are priorities.
Ukraine’s Rapid Expansion of Domestic UAV Development
The T40 is also part of a much larger Ukrainian unmanned systems effort.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has reported a rapid increase in the number of domestically produced unmanned systems being cleared for military use. Recent Ukrainian reporting cited by the ministry says 413 unmanned aerial systems had been codified and authorized for use since the beginning of 2026, with nearly all described as Ukrainian-made.
The pace of this process matters because codification is an important step between development and formal military adoption. It allows a system to enter Ukraine’s procurement and operational framework rather than remaining solely an experimental or prototype capability.
For Ukraine, this creates a pipeline in which battlefield requirements can feed into new designs, testing and eventual procurement.
What Remains Unknown About the Dovbush T40
Despite the range of information released by Ukrainian authorities, several important technical details remain undisclosed.
Public information does not currently establish the T40’s exact payload capacity, maximum speed, operating altitude, datalink architecture, navigation system, launch method, production rate or unit cost. There is also limited independent information about its performance against modern Russian air defense and electronic warfare systems.
Those limitations are important when assessing claims about long range unmanned aircraft. A platform’s theoretical range and endurance provide useful indicators, but operational effectiveness depends on the complete mission system, including intelligence, communications, navigation, target acquisition, launch and recovery arrangements.
The available evidence therefore supports describing the T40 as a newly codified Ukrainian long endurance UAV with a stated range above 2,000 kilometers, rather than treating every claimed characteristic as independently verified combat performance.
A Broader Shift Toward Long Range Unmanned Warfare
The Dovbush T40 reflects a broader change in the role of unmanned aircraft in modern warfare.
UAVs are increasingly being developed not only for tactical reconnaissance but also for persistent surveillance, artillery support and long range strike missions. Ukraine’s continued development of systems such as the T40 shows how wartime demand can accelerate this transition.
For the United States and other NATO countries, the development is relevant beyond the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Long endurance unmanned aircraft capable of operating across large geographic areas are increasingly important to concepts involving distributed sensing, persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and lower-cost long range strike.
The T40 does not by itself establish a new class of strategic weapon. Its importance is that Ukraine is integrating several traditionally separate missions into one domestically produced aircraft while pushing range and endurance well beyond conventional tactical UAV requirements.
Bottom Line
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has codified the Dovbush T40, a nearly five-meter-span unmanned aircraft that the ministry says can fly for more than 24 hours and cover more than 2,000 kilometers.
The system is designed for deep reconnaissance, artillery fire adjustment and precision strike missions, with reported options for dropping munitions or conducting one way attacks. Ukraine also says testing demonstrated a low radar signature and significant resistance to electronic warfare.
The most consequential feature is the combination of long endurance and long range in a domestically developed platform. While key technical and operational details remain undisclosed, the T40 demonstrates the continued expansion of Ukraine’s indigenous unmanned warfare capabilities and its effort to extend reconnaissance and strike options far beyond the front line.
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