Marine Gen. John Kelly, US Southern Command boss, this week visited Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., for the first time since taking command in November, according to a base release. The Arizona installation is home to 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), SOUTHCOM’s air component. During his Jan. 14 stop, Kelly met with airmen assigned to 12th AF, the 612th Air and Space Operations Center—which is the command and control center for air and space activities in SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility—the 612th Air Communications Squadron, and with soldiers from the Army’s 1st Battlefield Coordination Detachment, states the Jan. 15 release. SOUTHCOM has responsibility for the US military’s engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean, including counternarcotics activities. (Davis-Monthan report by Capt. Justin Brockhoff)
Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force
Sept. 16, 2026
The Air Force will consider acquiring new F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to answer capacity shortfalls in its aging fighter fleet, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. These discussions are happening as the Air Force is building its proposed fiscal 2028 budget and the five-year spending plan that goes…
