First Ops Osprey Arrives at Kirtland: The commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, flew the first operational CV-22 Osprey (recently completed in Texas) to Kirtland AFB, N.M., today, according to the Air Force. Wooley flew the new tilt-rotor aircraft from Edwards AFB, Calif., to Kirtland, where it is the first of four Ospreys to be assigned to the 58th Special Operations Wing, the advanced training unit for AFSOC aircrews. USAF plans to purchase a total of 50 Ospreys by 2017, with the first combat squadron schedule for operation at Hurlburt Field, Fla., by 2009.
The Pentagon announced a deal with Lockheed Martin on Sept. 17 to expand production of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, an advanced new Air Force and Navy air-to-air missile meant to equip fifth- and sixth-generation fighters.
