Airmen at Aviano AB, Italy, get little chance to practice their skills at night flying because the Italians insist the base keeps its F-16s in their nests from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to the Stars and Stripes. The newspaper reports that the situation is not all that unusual throughout European bases, although the time periods may vary. Aviano officials say the rules don’t really affect their readiness. They work around the restrictions, and the Italians do permit them a few weeks of night flying in the summer.
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.

