Twenty-eight Air Force and Marine Corps aircraft from bases in the Pacific and about 700 personnel from the two services are preparing to participate in Exercise Cope Tiger 2008 in Thailand. The annual field training exercise kicks off on Jan. 26 and runs through Feb. 5. It takes place at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base near the city of Korat, northeast of Bangkok, and at Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base. Air Force A-10s, C-17s, C-130s, E-3 AWACS, and KC-135 tankers will fly in the exercise, as will Marine Corps KC-130 tankers and F/A-18C fighters. In addition to US and Royal Thai Air Force and Army elements, the Republic of Singapore Air Force is participating.
The U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear development facilities saw the first use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a weapon specifically designed for such a mission more than 20 years ago. The Air Force B-2s were the only platform with the stealth and carrying capacity needed to haul the huge…