US Air Force B-2 bombers flying from Andersen AFB, Guam, are dropping weapons on Australia’s Delamere bombing range this week as part of a bi-national exercise worked out last year. (News of the plan last year sparked a local outcry, as critics claimed that past training activity by Americans had spawned accidents.) The Christian Science Monitor reports that this marks the first time US aircraft have used the Australian range since the two countries signed a bilateral agreement in 2004.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.