Two US Air Forces in Europe bases recently highlighted the success of shifting dining operations to the private sector. Both Incirlik AB, Turkey, and Lajes Field, Azores, had clubs with dining operations running consistently in the red. Officials say the decision to contract out the service was only taken after “careful consideration.” It also took months of negotiation and hours of training, but it worked. Both facilities reported financial turnarounds within the first few months of operations.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.