On a review of Royal Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint training with USAF’s 55th Wing, Britain’s ranking air power development officer visited Offutt AFB, Neb. “Seeing the training first-hand leaves me very, very excited” for delivery of Britain’s RC-135 aircraft, said Air Chief Marshal Simon Bryant during his Nov. 28 visit. In preparation, RAF airmen are conducting initial training and joint-manning operations with Offutt’s 55th WG. Since arriving in January, 60 RAF operators have finished training, with some of them flying combat missions with USAF crews over Afghanistan and Libya. “It’s great to have this RC-135 partnership with our best allies,” summed Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon, 55th WG commander. “We’ve learned a lot working with them and so it’s been a mutually beneficial relationship.” RAF RC-135s will replace the Nimrod R.1, retired earlier this year, by late 2013. (Offutt report by Ryan Hansen)
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.