Maintainers tending an F-16 of the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing failed to properly torque bolts connecting a fuel line to the main fuel control unit, resulting in the crash of the fighter on Jan. 19, according to an Air Combat Command release last week. The accident investigation board found that the single-engine aircraft suffered a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff and failed to restart during several attempts by the pilot, who then ejected, suffering only minor injuries.
The U.S. and Sweden signed a bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement on Dec. 5 that will strengthen military ties between them and likely lead to U.S. troops and prepositioned gear on Swedish soil. Swedish Defense minister Pal Jonson said the war in Ukraine prompted Sweden's joining NATO and he laid out…