Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a major base of Air Force operations in Southwest Asia are laying the groundwork for the arrival of a battery of the Army’s Patriot air defense system to bolster the base’s security. “It’s a mutually-beneficial relationship,” said Lt. Col. Shane Capaldi, chief of plans and programs for the 380th AEW. He added, “The Air Force gets the superior protection that only Patriot [missiles] can offer, while the Army is able to beddown on a premier tactical site at an established base.” More than 200 soldiers are expected from Ft. Bliss, Tex., to operate the battery, which consists of a deployable command element, radar, missile launchers, and power generators. The Patriot is designed to defeat aircraft as well as cruise missiles and theater-range ballistic missiles. Airmen are involved in tasks like preparing new dormitories, renovating other facilities, and working host-nation security and site-selection issues. (380th AEW report by TSgt. Denise Johnson)
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…