Pararescuemen of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 212th Rescue Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson conducted a jump training exercise at the base’s Malamute drop zone with members of the Coast Guard. This training was in preparation for a search-and-rescue exercise scheduled for July 26 at Barrow, Alaska, during which the Air Guardsmen will jump from Coast Guard C-130s to practice arctic rescues. During the training, held on June 23, the airmen executed a lower altitude static jump and a high-altitude, free-fall jump at about 10,000 feet in altitude. “The experience level among this group is one of the highest we have, and there’s really no difference jumping with the Coast Guard than one of the other services,” said MSgt. John Lane of the 212th RQS. (Elmendorf-Richardson report by A1C Jack Sanders)
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.