Flying from Andersen AFB, Guam, to Alaska as one of two B-2 bombers on a global power sortie, one B-2 got new orders in the air, directing it to new target coordinates in Hawaii. It was the first such electronic re-tasking in mid-mission for the B-2s on these 20-hour-long global power missions. Each of the bombers struck their targets, one in Alaska and one in Hawaii. “This tasking demonstrates how flexible our airmen and aircraft are,” said Col. Damian McCarthy, 36th Operations Group commander at Andersen. (Andersen report by TSgt. Steven Wilson)
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.