While in Washington the Joint Strike Fighter appears to be on the Quadrennial Defense Review cutting-room floor, members of the JSF integrated test force at Edwards AFB, Calif., are working hard to develop a means for the F-35 to withstand deadly chemical and biological assaults it may encounter in a future war. Testers are using a retired F-16 as a JSF stand-in during a series of three biological trials—involving a harmless spore with similarities to anthrax injected into the engine to contaminate environmental controls—and four simulated chemical agent trials. The JSF is the first fighter to have a requirement to survive chem-bio attack.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.