The 25th Air Support Operations Squadron’s Air Support Operations Center in Hawaii has proved it has initial operational capability and expects to reach full operational capability within the next couple of months. The 25th ASOS, located at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, deployed 34 airmen—joint terminal attack controllers, communications specialists, and logisticians—and more than 16 short tons of equipment last month to the Philippines to participate in the annual Balikatan exercise for its IOC test. Calling the exercise “crucial” toward achieving FOC, Lt. Col. John Schaefer III, 25th ASOS commander, said, “We proved we were able to field a self-sustained command and control hub which retained accountability for fixed and rotary winged aircraft while executing requests for close air support and support land maneuver forces.” The Hawaii-based ASOC expects to deploy members this fall for two six-month tours to support US Central Command operations. (13th Air Force report by Capt. Genieve David)
The Air Force awarded a $13.08 billion contract to the Sierra Nevada Corporation on April 26 for its Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft, the successor to the service’s E-4B “Doomsday” plane. Like the E-4B, officially called the National Airborne Operations Center, the SAOC will be meant to withstand a nuclear attack and keep…