Ten F-15Cs from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, have arrived at the 71st Air Base in Campia Turzii, Romania, for a large-scale NATO interoperability exercise with the Romanian air force. They will fly with Romanian Mig-21s during Operation Golden Lance, focusing mainly on honing their air-to-air engagement skills. “We’re excited to bring our F-15C capability to demonstrate our air superiority skills, train with a formidable NATO ally, and integrate our services on offensive counter-aircraft training missions,” said Lt. Col. Skip Pribyl, 493rd FS commander. Although this exercise is the first exchange between the 493rd FS and Romanian pilots, both the Lakenheath F-15s and Romanian MiG-21s have deployed on separate occasions to Lithuania to execute NATO’s Baltic air policing mission. A 493rd FS contingent is currently responsible for that mission. (Lakenheath report by SrA. David Dobrydney)
Hundreds, or possibly thousands, of transgender service members have returned to work after two judges ordered preliminary injunctions blocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s ban of transgender service members and recruits. But their long-term future remains uncertain.