A half dozen Texas Air National Guard F-16Cs flew to Chile for international exercise Salitre alongside air forces from four South American countries at Cerro Moreno AB, Chile. “This exercise provides an opportunity to strengthen our military-to-military relationships with regional partners,” said exercise co-director Col. Mike Torrealday in a release. The Texas ANG is paired with the Chilean air force under the Guard’s State Partnership Program and 149th Fighter Wing F-16s participated in a mini-exchange as part of the country’s largest air show earlier this year. International aircraft flying in the exercise include Argentine A-4 Skyhawks, Brazilian F-5E Tiger IIs and C-130s, Chilean F-16s, and Uruguayan A-37 Dragonflies, according to the exercise homepage. Approximately 80 pilots, maintainers, and support personnel from the 149th Fighter Wing at JBSA-Lackland, Texas, supported by a single Ohio ANG KC-135 deployed for the exercise Oct. 4-18, according to the release. (See also The Guard Partnerships from the October issue of Air Force Magazine.)
Trump Says US Will Sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia
Nov. 17, 2025
President Donald Trump said he plans to sell F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, announcing his decision Nov. 17, a day before he meets the country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.
