DOD: Russia Contacted US Before Strikes

Russia on Nov. 17 contacted the US in advance of conducting airstrikes in Syria for the first time since the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in October to keep pilots safe and avoid mid-air collisions. Beginning at 5...

Cotton Takes Over 20th AF

Maj. Gen. Anthony Cotton accepted command of 20th Air Force from outgoing commander Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein in a Nov. 16 ceremony at F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo., officials announced. The numbered air force is tasked with overseeing Air Force...

Joint Strike Missile’s First Shot

The Joint Strike Missile, designed for the F-35A, was successfully fired for the first time over the Utah Test and Training Range late last month, Norwegian manufacturer Kongsburg announced. “The test demonstrates that we are on track with the qualification...

Crack in F-35C Found During Testing

Inspectors testing the durability of the Navy’s F-35C have found a small crack in one of the aircraft’s 13 wing spars, the joint program office said. The crack was found after tests simulating more than 20 years of operational flying,...

Commandos’ Hilltop Workup

A variety of 1st Special Operations Wing aircraft relocated from Hurlburt Field, Fla., to Hill AFB, Utah, for an expeditionary force-integration exercise earlier this month, officials announced. “We’re getting guys outside of home station training, out of just unilateral training,”...

Guard Predator Wing Reaches 100,000 Hours

A Texas Air National Guard wing last month reached 100,000 flying hours on the MQ-1B Predator. The 147th Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, reached the milestone on Oct. 8, according to a wing release....

First All-Afghan C-130 Training Flight

The Afghan Air Force this month performed its first all-Afghan C-130 training flight, according to an Air Force Central Command release. The flight was a significant step toward sustainability by the only C-130 crew in the Afghan Air Force, which...