About a dozen F-16s and nearly 300 airmen from Hill AFB, Utah, deployed to Osan AB, South Korea, earlier this month as part of a theater security package, according to base officials. “Part of this deployment includes an exercise to test our airmen’s ability to respond on short notice,” said 388th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Lance Landrum. “The combat scenarios they experience are as realistic as they come,” he added in the Jan. 15 release. Both Active Duty airmen from the 388th FW and Air Force Reserve Command associate 419th FW deployed together on the several month Asia-Pacific rotation, officials said. “Many of our Reservists here at Hill are seasoned veterans with multiple deployments under their belts,” noted 419th FW Commander Col. Bryan Radliff. “Our Reserve airmen are committed to supporting our Active Duty counterparts.” (Separate Hill release on deployment)
A recent Air Force contract to buy up to $50 million worth of small drones from Anduril Industries may soon allow the service’s special operations command to transform its MQ-9 Reapers into drone-launching motherships.
