On Friday, in addition to several aircraft basing announcements (see above), USAF issued a candidate list to host MQ-1 and MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft ground control stations: Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Langley AFB, Va.; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; and Whiteman AFB, Mo. Communities now have the opportunity to participate in the environmental impact analysis process, moving toward a final basing announcement in June. There was no indication whether the sites would be operated wholly or in part by active duty or reserve components. (Ground control station release)
A-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes in the Middle East are flying with fresh modifications as the Air Force looks to make the plane more versatile amid America’s ongoing blockade of Iranian ports and a tenuous ceasefire in the U.S. air war against Iran.