A Mississippi air base now is engaged in training international military pilots, with some 32 students from 17 countries, reports a base release. At Columbus Air Force Base, there are three foreign programs: A 12-month course provides military students from Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Portugal, and Singapore the same type specialized undergraduate pilot training as USAF pilot trainees undergo; a 10-month aviation leadership course prepares students for follow-on aircraft in their home country; and a five-month Polish Pilot Program trains Poland’s pilots to fly the F-16, using the T-38C trainer.
Pentagon officials overseeing homeland counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that even with preliminary moves to bolster U.S. base defenses, the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drones like those that breached the airspace of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 days in December…