Over 
the 36-hour period marking the battle in An Najaf in Iraq last month, F-16s from three fighter squadrons based at Balad Air Base and A-10s from Al Asad Air Base expended munitions for the first time in a single operation, reports Air Force journalist TSgt. Jennifer Gregoire. A Joint Terminal Attack Controller embedded with an Army unit, called in the fighters to aid recovery operations for a downed Army helicopter when coalition ground forces became pinned down by enemy fire.
Air Combat Command is looking for defense firms capable of providing a private counter-drone service, complete with the personnel to operate it, for defending air bases across the Air Force.