T
he first of a planned 50 A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft destined for Moody AFB, Ga., flew into its new home Aug. 7. The Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah, has been leading the modernization of the service’s Warthog fleet. Moody has gained an A-10 unit—the 23rd Fighter Group—from Pope AFB, N.C. and is picking up additional aircraft from Alaska, all courtesy of BRAC 2005. Moody expects to have all 50 upgraded Hogs by spring 2008.
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.