The US Air Force and Peruvian Air Force have just completed their first joint combat search and rescue exercise—finding and rescuing Peruvian and US pilots “stranded” in the middle of a deserted region of northern Peru. A Puerto Rican Air National Guard C-130 transported Peruvian special forces members who jumped to the rescue. Air Force journalist SSgt. Lee Hoover reports that the SAR event was “a major part” of Falcon and Condor Exercise 2007.
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.
