Iraqi Aircrew Flies Solo: The first USAF-trained all Iraqi aircrew has flown solo in their C-130E transport. The nine crew members are part of the 23rd Iraqi Squadron. (We reported on their efforts to learn English earlier.) The US Air Force has been training the crews at Ali Base, Iraq. The 23rd will move in January to its new home at New Al Muthana, currently the only Iraqi air base, which will have three C-130Es.
A new Navy missile could fill a long-range air-to-air need for the U.S. Air Force’s fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation fighters. The Navy’s portfolio acquisition executive for munitions posted information on the AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missile online on Aug. 22, the same day it unveiled the project at the service’s…