Air Force officials on Oct. 26 formally turned over a new a suite of navigational aids installed at Kirkuk AB, Iraq, to the Iraqi air force. This state-of-the-art digital airport surveillance system, which replaces aging and often-malfunctioning equipment at Kirkuk, was procured and installed over a two-year period through a first-of-its-kind foreign military sales effort. “Our governments, air forces, and civilian contractors cooperated not only to fund the purchase of this highly technical equipment, but to train the Iraqi Air Force personnel how to use it and maintain it,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Kane, director of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force. Similar upgrade efforts are underway at IqAF installations, including Taji Air Base and Al Kut Air Base. (Hanscom report by Chuck Paone)
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…