Three B-2 bombers deployed from Whiteman AFB, Mo., to Andersen AFB, Guam, on Aug. 6. The Spirit bombers will fly sorties from the island as part of “familiarization training activities” in the Western Pacific, Pacific Air Forces officials announced in a statement. The deployment “demonstrates continuing US commitment to regular, global, strategic bomber operations throughout the Asia-Pacific region,” PACAF declared. Some 220 airmen are deploying with the bombers from Whiteman, and will maintain and support bomber operations from Guam as part of US Pacific Command’s extended deterrence operations and long-range strike capability. This short-term deployment is the first Air Force Global Strike Command B-2 deployment to Guam since January 2012, AFGSC spokesman Charles Ramey told Air Force Magazine. B-2s and B-52s also deployed to RAF Fairford, England, earlier this summer.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
