Lt. Gen. Gary North, US Air Forces Central boss, directed the experts at Shaw AFB, N.C., to host a training event for some 20 soon-to-deploy Air Force joint terminal attack controllers from various units on the new mobile Air Support Operations Center Gateway, a vehicle-mounted communications system designed to help shorten the kill chain. The week-long training provided the JTACs with classroom and hands-on Gateway close air support experience, working with F-16s at Shaw, A-10s from Moody AFB, Ga., and E-8 Joint STARS from Robins AFB, Ga. The 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron at Shaw has worked to field the ASOC Gateway with the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, Mass. MSgt. Matt Nugent, Air Combat Command tactical air control party requirements lead, said of Gateway, “We are breaking new ground,” with Gateway and in training the assembled JTACs on the latest version of the digital close air support system. (Shaw report by SSgt. John Gordinier)
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.