The recent stand up of the 434th Fighter Training Squadron at Laughlin AFB, Tex., means the wing is departing from its previous singular mission of turning out novice pilots. Col. David Petersen, 47th Operations Group commander, calls the activation of the new squadron a “great new step in developing a training continuum.” TSgt. Joel Langton reports that the new 34-person squadron expects each year to graduate 80 pilots—qualified to fly the F-15C, the F-15E, the F-16, the A-10 and F-22.
The Space Development Agency added 21 satellites to its nascent data transport network in an Oct. 15 launch, the second mission in a 10-month campaign to field 154 operational spacecraft.