US Northern Command officials decided last week to preposition four Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped aircraft in California in anticipation of possible new wildfire outbreaks as Santa Ana winds grew in force. NORTHCOM deployed two MAFFS aircraft from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing and two from Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing in Colorado.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.