The 522nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Andersen AFB, Guam, just helped defend the island’s airspace and intercept a simulated threat with their F-16 Vipers. MSgt. Art Webb reports that Operation Jungle Shield provided a quick-reaction exercise, testing the ability of the deployed Viper pilots, crew chiefs, and ground controller interceptors to handle alert scramble operations. Capt. Wyckliffe Furcron, 522nd EFS project officer for the exercise, said the exercise “helped to keep personnel in a ready mindset.” Working with the F-16s were two KC-135 tankers of the 173rd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, used to simulate the threats.
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.
