The Air Force’s Distributed Mission Operations Network has grown to 25 nodes, recently reaching Spangdahlem AB, Germany and Kadena AB, Japan, and will expand to Misawa AB, Japan, by year’s end. So states Telecommunications firm Global Crossing and Northrop Grumman. The companies began running the fiber optic backbone and broadband connections at USAF facilities in 2001. DMON is the system that, for instance, lets F-15 fighter pilots and E-3 AWACS crews at different locations train as if they were flying together. See our story on this here.
National Guard adjutants general from nearly two dozen states have signed a letter to Congress seeking multiyear funding for the Air Force to purchase between 72 and 100 new fighter jets per year to modernize the total force.The letter, sent to Congress last week, stresses the need for the Air…