Coalition Airstrike Kills Khorasan Leader

The US airstrike that killed the highest-ranking leader of the Khorasan Group in Syria on Oct. 15 took place west of Aleppo, in an area where Russian aircraft have been active, further emphasizing the need for an agreement between the...

489th Bomb Group Reactivated

The Air Force Reserve reactivated the 489th Bomb Group at Dyess AFB, Texas, on Oct. 17. The group, which includes the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 489th Maintenance Squadron, and the 489th Aerospace Medical Flight, operates under the 307th Bomb Wing...

Treaty Monitoring Reshuffle

The Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick AFB, Fla., activated five new squadrons with responsibility for its nuclear treaty compliance monitoring and support missions on Oct. 15. “As an organization, AFTAC is changing rapidly and we must embrace these...

Capital Cat and Mouse

North American Aerospace Defense Command is conducting nighttime air defense exercises over Washington, D.C., for Exercise Falcon Virgo 16-1, officials announced. The periodic live-fly exercises ensure seamless command and control coordination between NORAD, federal agencies in the National Capital Region,...

Lockheed’s Turbulence-Taming Turret

Lockheed Martin has developed a prototype laser turret for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Air Force Research Laboratory that paves the way for lasers to be placed on tactical aircraft, according to an Oct. 15 company release....

Upgraded HARM Hits Target in Test Shot

An upgraded AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile successfully foiled a decoy emitter and destroyed its intended radar target in a recent live-shot test at the Utah Test and Training Range, Raytheon announced. The HARM control section modification upgrade “improves the probability...

Turbocharger Failure Led to Predator Crash

The failure of an engine turbocharger caused the crash of an MQ-1B Predator in May, according to an abbreviated accident investigation board report released Oct. 19. The Predator, assigned to the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron at Creech AFB, Nev., was doing...