The A-10s of the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Mont., have flown more than 1,700 combat sorties in Afghanistan since Sept. 15. “Our A-10s have provided non-stop presence and lethal firepower since we arrived,” says Lt. Col. Martha McSally, squadron commander. Clearly, as we reported here, air operations have increased over the fall in Afghanistan as well as Iraq. McSally credits the success of her unit’s ability “to seek out and destroy” remaining enemy combatants to the squadron’s close integration with conventional and special operations troops on the ground. She also says the “weapon of choice” for A-10 pilots is the aircraft’s 30 mm cannon because of its “pinpoint accuracy.” During 6,000 combat hours, the unit has fired more than 20,000 cannon rounds among other munitions, depending on proximity to friendly forces.
A recent seven-day exercise sent Air Force F-22s—along with other USAF aircraft—to austere, challenging environments across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Agile Reaper, taking place for the second time after its inaugural edition last year, featured 800 Airmen and 29 aircraft across five different locations from April 10-16, training…