Holloman AFB, N.M., this year hosted the air-to-air Weapon Systems Evaluation Program, welcoming airmen from Tyndall AFB, Fla., Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and Kadena AB, Japan. More than 250 airmen participated in the exercise designed to evaluate the full gamut of weapons systems utilized by air-to-air aircraft. Tyndall’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, which oversees the testing, chose Holloman to better simulate the environment in the deserts of Southwest Asia, Lt. Col. Raymond O’Mara, 53rd WEG commander, told the Alamogordo Daily News. The unit conducts most air-to-air weapons testing over water near Tyndall at the Gulf of Mexico.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.