At his confirmation hearing Tuesday to become the next Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee, “Whatever changed approach or strategy we come up with, … we are still going to have to have some level of American support there for the Iraqi military.” He said that there will be “some [US] presence in Iraq for a long time” and that would include logistical support and—you guessed it—air power. Said Gates, “They have no airpower of their own.”
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.