The North Dakota Air National Guard’s Happy Hooligans of the 119th Fighter Wing now are slated to get C-21s—the Air Force’s version of a small business Learjet—to replace the F-16 fighters it will lose under BRAC 2005, according to Associated Press news service. Previously Guard officials told North Dakota lawmakers that the unit was in line to fly C-130 airlifters from the Fargo ANG facility. The 119th should be truly ecstatic, now that they will be getting a small, nimble jet and will also be flying unmanned aerial vehicles.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
