Despite the extended stand-down of its key air defense fighter, the F-15 Eagle, Air Forces Northern conducted 150 fighter sorties over North America in December. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command fighters flew the majority of sorties, and Air Guard and Reserve tankers covered all 50 air refueling sorties for the month. Since 9/11, Operation Noble Eagle aircraft have flown more than 181,000 flying hours. (See Data Points.)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
