B-52 bomber crews from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, N.D. but deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam practiced their combat skills during Koa Lightning, a US Pacific Command-led exercise, in which they flew four long-duration training missions from Guam to Hawaii. The exercise “pitted four F-15s against two B-52s escorted by four F-16s,” said Maj. Jim Jagodzinski, 23rd EBS mission planning cell chief. “The B-52s had targets to strike, and the fighters were attempting to ‘shoot’ them down.” The B-52s also coordinated with forward air controllers in Hawaii to deliver simulated Joint Direct Attack Munitions. The 18-hour sorties from Andersen to Hawaii required two KC-135s—from Air Force Reserve Command’s 434th Air Refueling Wing—to provide air refuelings, providing extra loiter time in the weapons employment area.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
