Abundant lightning strikes are keeping California battling widespread wildfires and seeking help from Air Force firefighting aircraft, including the North Caroline Air National Guard we reported yesterday and Air Force Reserve Command’s modular airborne firefighting C-130s from Colorado. According to a June 25 release from US Northern Command, NORTHCOM has dispatched two AFRC MAFF-equipped C-130H3s from Peterson AFB, Colo., and a Defense Coordinating Element and is coordinating the Air Guard MAFF support to fight some 668 wildfires in California. “We are working with our interagency partners to support the State of California in any way we can,” said NORTCOM boss Gen. Gene Renuart.
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…