The pilot of an F-16 from the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa AB, Japan, declared an in-flight emergency and was forced to divert to the nearby Aomori civilian regional airport due to an engine oil leak, reported Stars and Stripes. The pilot followed standard emergency procedures during the April 15 incident and safely landed the fighter after jettisoning its external fuel tanks over the Sea of Japan, according to the report. A second F-16 flying as the other’s wingman also landed at Aomori, states the report. Air Force officials are currently investigating the incident. Less than two weeks ago, an F-16 from Kunsan AB, South Korea, made an emergency landing at a civil airport in South Korea after a serious engine failure.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.