For nearly three years, airmen at Balad AB, Iraq, have been installing extra armor on convoy vehicles, helping to fortify them against Improvised Explosive Devices. That work is coming to an end this month. The airmen have armored more than 1,300 vehicles, but now, officials say, the need for add-on armor is dwindling. More and more vehicles arrive in Iraq with armor kits already installed.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
