The Air Force activated the 314th Fighter Squadron during a July 14 ceremony at Holloman AFB, N.M. The squadron, which first activated in July 1942, is tasked with training the next generation of F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots. Lt. Col. Andrew Caggiano, a command pilot with more than 1,850 hours in the F-16, will lead the squadron and its more than 30 members, according to an Air Combat Command release.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.