Airmen with the 90th Missile Wing at F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo., claimed best missile wing honors and clinched the Global Strike Challenge’ Blanchard Trophy for the second year running. B-1s from Air Combat Command’s 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., seized top bomb wing in the closing award ceremony held at Barksdale AFB, La., Nov. 9. “We came, we saw, we conquered,” said Col. Christopher Coffelt, 90th MW commander. Col. Mark Weatherington, 28th BW commander, noted that his wing had claimed the Fairchild trophy for the first time since 1989 when the 28th BW was crowned Strategic Air Command’s most outstanding bomber unit. He said the victory was “the result of the consistent training and dedication of Ellsworth Airmen in operations, maintenance, and mission support.” Nearly 400 airmen from AFGCS, ACC, and Air Force Reserve Command competed in this year’s competition, which was hosted by AFGSC for the second year. (Barksdale release)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
