Papering Afghanistan,
Again: Airmen deployed to the 40th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped some 300,000 leaflets as their C-130 flew over the mountains of Afghanistan recently, reports SSgt. Jason Barebo. The aircrews consider such flights “just as critical as any other,” since they help keep villagers out of the way as friendly ground forces push forward against the enemy, said Lt. Col. Michael Zick, 40th EAS commander. The flights also are made at a fairly low level, requiring the loadmasters to watch for enemy fire directed at the aircraft.
F-35 Deliveries Soared to New Record in 2025
Jan. 8, 2026
Lockheed Martin says it delivered 191 F-35 fighters in 2025—just ahead of the goal it set for itself at the beginning of the year as it works to clear a backlog of jets in storage.

