Four members of the Brazilian air force visited Peterson AFB, Colo., in mid November to meet with members of Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing and discuss aerial firefighting operations, according to a base release. Like the Reserve wing, the Brazilians fly Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130s to drop retardant to help suppress major wildfires. The Brazilians were especially interested in discussing the 302nd AW’s conversion from the MAFFS legacy units to the MAFFS II configuration, an upgrade that the Brazilian air force also plans, states the Nov. 26 release. The Brazilians’ five-day visit included subject-matter exchange, classroom instruction, and an up-close look at the MAFFS II. In October, Mexican defense chief Gen. Guillermo Galvan Galvan toured the wing’s MAFFS operations. In September, a Chinese delegation visited the wing to learn more about the overhead firefighting mission. (Peterson report by Ann Skarban)
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
