Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz, commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, visited JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, last week to discuss bilateral, regional, and global issues with Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Hawk Carlisle. During his Oct. 16 visit, Carlisle and he spoke about the potential for future engagements between the two air arms to promote regional security and stability, according to PACAF’s release. Dela Cruz toured PACAF headquarters, along with the 613th Air and Space Operations Center, 19th Fighter Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron, and the Hawaii Region Air Operations Center at Wheeler Army Air Field, states the release. This was Dela Cruz’s first visit to Hickam, coming after Carlisle visited the Philippines in January.
Since President Donald Trump first unveiled his “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative in late January, much of the focus for it has been focused on space—how the Pentagon may deploy dozens, if not hundreds, of sensors and interceptors into orbit to protect the continental U.S. from missile barrages. But the Air…