Approximately 500 airmen and 21 combat aircraft are scheduled to participate in Cope Tiger 2010 that kicks off March 1 at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Force Bases. This iteration of the annual multilateral air exercise runs through March 12. The Air Force plans to send A-10, C-17, C-130, E-3 AWACS, and F-15 aircraft. Joining the US presence will be roughly 1,100 members of the Royal Thai Air Force and Army, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force with their aircraft and air defense units. Like all Cope Tiger exercises, this meeting will include humanitarian and civic assistance activities. (JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii report)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.

