The last US combat personnel serving in Iraq departed that nation on Dec. 18, 2011, ending the phased withdrawal of US forces after a war and subsequent stability operation that began there in March 2003. See our coverage of the event: Last Troops out of Iraq and Last US Military Flight Leaves Iraq. (See also: The Last Days in Iraq from Air Force Magazine’s March 2012 issue.)
The two prototypes for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program have started ground testing, Air Force Chief Staff Gen. David W. Allvin announced May 1, ahead of a planned first flight this summer.