A military working dog deployed from Tinker AFB, Okla., to Iraq was killed in action Jan. 19 during a patrol in Baghdad. Marco, a 7 year-old Belgian Malinois, was on weapons and explosives detection patrol with his handler, SSgt. Alissa Jones, deployed from the 72nd Security Forces Squadron at Tinker, when he died subsequent to electrical shock. It was Marco’s third tour in Iraq.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.