Air Force Reserve Command Hurricane Hunters tracking Tropical Storm Ernesto actually flew into Cuban airspace—many times and with Cuba’s permission, reports the Miami Herald. Actually, the newspaper says that it is not the first time. The National Hurricane Center arranged with the State Department for the specially configured C-130s of AFRC’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which now flies the new WC-130J, to fly through Cuban airspace three years ago.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.