Exercise Eager Tiger 2014 officially kicked off Sunday in northern Jordan. The annual event, also known as Falcon Air Meet, allows the US and Jordanian forces to strengthen interoperability while highlighting individual strengths in weapons-loading, aircraft scramble, and first-run attack scenarios. “Eager Tiger has been the premier US Air Forces Central Command tactical air exercise with our Jordanian partners since its inception in 2004,” said AFCENT Commander Lt. Gen. John Hesterman. “This exercise is designed to challenge our military forces in a variety of disciplines in the air. Our goal is to build relationships and capabilities that will bring us closer together and enhance the region’s stability.” Royal Jordanian Air Force Maj. Ali Shabana said the exercises continues to grow each year. “The idea of the event is not just the competition itself, but the bringing together of people and sharing of ideas,” said Shabana. “When people compete, they show their best.” (See also In the Lion’s Den.)
General Atomics, the maker of one of the Air Force’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has ambitious plans for its family of semi-autonomous drones beyond the FQ-42, including a flying-wing aircraft capable of carrying out both reconnaissance and strike missions. Meanwhile, the Air Force Research Laboratory announced a new program to…