Officials at Andersen AFB, Guam, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 12 to celebrate the opening of the new hangar that will shelter the base’s RQ-4 Global Hawks when the high-flying unmanned reconnaissance aircraft start arriving there next year for beddown. Black Construction began the $41 million project in September 2007 and completed it in May on time, Guam’s Pacific Daily News reported June 13. The new facility, at about the size of a regulation football field, is the largest hangar ever built on the base. Inside it has more than 47,000 square feet to accommodate up to six Global Hawks and an additional 11,500 square feet for maintenance shops, working space, and command and control facilities. The first Global Hawks are expected next spring at Andersen, with Global Hawk personnel to begin arriving this fall, according to PDN. (See also Guam news network KUAM TV’s June 12 report.)
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…