Munition
s specialists at Ramstein AB, Germany saved the Air Force more than $31 million by doing the overhaul of 63 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles themselves. Airmen of the 435th Munitions Squadron worked with Raytheon contract technicians to transfer rocket motors from older AIM-120A AMRAAMs to the newer AIM-120B and C models. It took them three years. As they gained experience, they advanced from completing two a day to six per day.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
