Friendlies and aggressors squared off over Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, in May at the first Gunfighter Flag held at the base. Some 40 aircraft of six different types participated in offensive and defensive air operations, reports The Gunfighter. Alongside F-15C/Ds, F-15Es, and F-16s of Mountain Home were F-16s from Luke AFB, Ariz., B-52s from Barksdale AFB, La., E-3s from Tinker AFB, Okla., B-1Bs from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and F-15s from the Oregon Air National Guard. During offensive counter air ops, the visitors played “red” air, while the roles reversed during defensive ops.
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.