The Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad AB, Iraq, over the past four months has admitted some 1,500 patients, performed 2,500 surgeries, and evacuated more than 2,000 stabilized patients to American military medical facilities in Europe and the US, according to the Red Tail Flyer. The record shows that if a wounded troop makes it to the hospital, the troop has at least a 96 percent chance for survival. (Read the article here.)
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.

