F-16s from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano AB, Italy, are flying simulated close air support missions over Slovenia this week to train allied joint terminal attack controllers. The F-16s are flying daily range sorties from Aviano to train Austrian, Belgian, Czech, Montenegrin, French, Croatian, Latvian, Hungarian, and Slovenian JTACs, according to a June 3 release. A total of 23 allied and partner aircraft, including Hungarian JAS-39 Gripen fighters and Polish L-159 attack jets, are operating at four locations for Exercise Adriatic Strike, according to a release from the Slovenian defense ministry. Army remotely piloted aircraft and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters rounded out US airpower taking part in the exercise, which also includes nearly 200 allied military personal. Adriatic Strike took place June 2-6.
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
