The Air Force now has one organization—the 586th Expeditionary Mission Support Group in Kuwait—whose job it is to oversee USAF’s “in lieu of” forces deployed for the war on terror. “In lieu of” airmen are performing jobs that have typically been handled by soldiers, like convoy duty. The Air Force in September established the 586th EMSG to oversee what started in March 2004 as ad-hoc support to the Army.
Shield AI has entered the increasingly crowded field of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, this week announcing its “X-BAT” vehicle that stands out from others by having both vertical takeoff and landing capability and supersonic speed.

