Weather
scientists say the US is on the upswing of a 30-year up-and-down cycle of hurricanes, as evidenced by the bumper crop of powerful storms over the last three years. Gen. William Looney, head of Air Education and Training Command, says, however, that this has apparently not been considered in decisions about basing in the Gulf region. “I have heard no discussion at the official level about not rebuilding Keesler” or not going forward with plans to locate all F-35 Joint Strike Fighter training at Eglin (AFB, Fla.), Looney said. Until told otherwise, “we’re moving ahead to reconstitute Keesler.”
The Air Force tanker fleet “did not meet” its availability and mission capable rate goals from fiscal 2019 to 2025, in large part because of parts shortages and delays fielding the KC-46 refueler, according to a Government Accountability Office report released June 10.