Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) and members of the Bay Defense Alliance met in Washington, D.C., with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz to sing praises of Tyndall AFB, Fla., and ensure it will continue to train F-22 pilots. Tyndall is passing the F-15 advanced training mantle to the Air National Guard at Kingsley Field, Ore., and, in the process, loses one squadron. It had two F-15 squadrons but will only have one F-22 squadron. “This morning, I received assurances from the Air Force that Tyndall will continue to be the preeminent training ground for F-22 pilots and will maintain its current squadron,” said Boyd in a Nov. 17 statement. He added, “This decision will help preserve the operational future of Tyndall and allow us to continue promoting future missions at the base.” Tom Neubauer, BDA president, called Tuesday’s discussions, part of a year-long series of conversations, “a turning point in the evolving mission of Tyndall Air Force Base.” (Also read News Herald report)
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.
