The Air Force and Missile Defense Agency on Monday successfully flight tested a ballistic missile defense interceptor from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. The launch was to evaluate the performance of the new two-stage version of the Orbital Sciences-built ground based interceptor that is currently operational in a three-stage configuration in silos at Vandenberg and in central Alaska. “Initial indications are that all components performed as designed,” stated MDA in a release. The test was solely to collect data on system performance. There was no target launch or intercept attempt. The test marked the first time that a BMD interceptor was fired from Vandenberg’s Launch Facility 24, which was recently upgraded to support missile defense testing. (Vandenberg release)
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.