Coalition forces in Afghanistan came under small arms fire while performing routine operations in the vicinity of Tarin Kowt on Aug. 24. The troops requested close air support, and Air Force A-10s and B-52s responded. The B-52s launched nine precision-guided JDAMS—with successful results.
A recent Air Force contract to buy up to $50 million worth of small drones from Anduril Industries may soon allow the service’s special operations command to transform its MQ-9 Reapers into drone-launching motherships.




