The 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., the Air Force’s sole B-2A stealth bomber organization, underwent an annual nuclear weapon system evaluation on Aug. 17. This Air Combat Command-led Combat Sledgehammer drill, observed by Whiteman’s 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, is geared to ascertain how well the wing’s airmen execute the nuclear mission from weapons loading to aircraft generation, command and control, and weapon release. “Combat Sledgehammer is a chance to prove ourselves and the rest of the world that if the President asks us to deliver a nuclear weapon, we would do it perfectly,” said Maj. William Woodward, 72nd TES director of operations. ACC coordinated the event with US Strategic Command, which provided emergency action messages to assess procedures, and the Energy Department, which supplied simulated bombs and release parameters for them. (Whiteman report by SSgt. Jason Barebo)
NATO Scrambles Fighter in Newest Response to Russian Drones
Sept. 16, 2025
NATO scrambled its first fighter Sept. 13 under its new plan to bolster its defenses against Russian air incursions that was put into place after an array of Russian drones flew into Polish airspace last week, the officials from the alliance’s military command said.
