Active Fighter Unit Takes up Noble Eagle Duty: Because members of the Louisiana Air National Guard’s 159th Fighter Wing, based at New Orleans airport, have been dealing with the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in their personal lives and to their Guard facilities, USAF tapped the active duty 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., to begin flying Operation Noble Eagle missions normally handled by the ANG unit. The 33rd’s 60th Fighter Squadron will be covering Noble Eagle for “an undetermined amount of time,” said USAF officials.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.