The 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, is working 14 civilian contractors in 24-hour shifts, six days a week, to modify the wing’s F-15s in preparation for September deployment to Southwest Asia. The deploying fighters are getting fitted with advanced processors, software, and improved imagery, and munitions capabilities. According to MSgt. Byron Parsons, wing avionics manager, the newly installed advanced display core processors are the key to enabling the fighter’s to make full use of their Link-16 imagery system. The speed of the new processor and updated software let the Link-16 converse with unmanned aerial vehicles, E-3 AWACS aircraft, or a ground-pounder.
In his final keynote address before retiring as Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, Roger A. Towberman reflected on the progress of the Space Force and the growth still ahead at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference on Sept. 12, 2023. Watch the video or read the transcript.