A recent operational readiness exercise gave testers from the active duty 416th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., and the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center in Tucson, Ariz., the opportunity to join forces in conducting accelerated development testing on a software upgrade for Block 30 F-16s, primarily flown by the air reserve components. Service officials expect Software Capability Upgrade-6 to improve the fighter’s survivability and weapons capacity and effectiveness. Team members put in 12-hour days to meet an aggressive flying schedule, carrying out approximately 20 sorties over eight days.
The U.S. military conducted strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz on May 7, as the conflict with Iran flared up again—though officials say the ceasefire remains in effect.