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.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.