Th
e B-52 bombers deployed to Guam from Barksdale AFB, La., flew more than 18 continuous hours to participate in US Pacific Command’s Koa Lightning exercise in the Hawaiian islands, receiving two aerial refuelings during the 6,880-nautical mile round trip. Co-pilot Capt. Matthew Quy called the experience “as close to a combat sortie as you could get.” The Barksdale bombers and about 300 airmen arrived at Andersen AFB, Guam, earlier this year for the latest USAF bomber rotation to reinforce PACOM’s strategic strike capability.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
