The 71st Fighter Squadron completed its final deployment in late May when members of the unit and their F-15s returned home to Langley AFB, Va., after a two-week stay at Tyndall AFB, Fla. The squadron had participated in weapon system evaluation activities while in Florida. The unit is one of the Air Force’s squadrons that will be deactivated in the fall as part of a drawdown of legacy fighter assets. Lt. Col. Joel Cook, 71st FS boss, said the unit’s maintenance support during the stint at Tyndall “was the best I’ve ever seen in my 17 years of service.” (Langley photo caption by SSgt. Barry Loo)
The Air Force wants to pump more than $12 billion over the next five years into its new affordable long-range missiles program and recently asked industry to push the flights of some of those munitions beyond 1,200 miles.