As Cope India warmed up this week, 10 USAF communicators from the 35th Communications Squadron deployed from Misawa AB, Japan, with a theater deployable communication package and had the exercise comm operable within 48 hours. The airmen established satellite connectivity, enabling phones and Internet capability at Kalaikunda AS, India.
Air Mobility Command’s interim boss said the Air Force is behind on modernizing its airlift fleet, to include selecting a Next-Generation Airlifter to replace the service’s fleet of C-5 and C-17 workhorses—a project that faces stiff competition for resources in the service’s modernization portfolio.