An E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System unit reached 70,000 flight hours in support of operations in US Central Command’s area of responsibility, including Afghanistan and Iraq, since 9/11. The 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron, flying from an undisclosed air base in Southwest Asia, reached the milestone on Sept. 25. “To put it into perspective, the unit has flown an average of 19 hours each day since Sept. 11, 2001, or the equivalent of being airborne for eight years,” states a release from Robins AFB, Ga., stateside home of the Air Force’s 17 JSTARS. “This system was originally meant to track tanks in a large-scale land battle and is now capable of supporting multiple small units across a large area with live intelligence data and command and control capabilities,” said Capt. Nathan Waters, 7th EACCS computer systems flight officer in charge.
Work Has Begun to Adapt Qatari 747 to Fly as Air Force One
Sept. 15, 2025
The Air Force has started modifying a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for "executive airlift," a spokesperson said Sept. 15. President Donald Trump has said he wants to fly the jet as “Air Force One” since new presidential transports, held up by delays, won't be ready until after his term…