A contingent of Swedish air force personnel and JAS-39 Gripen fighters concluded a week of training at RAF Lakenheath, England, with 48th Fighter Wing airmen and their F-15Cs and F-15Es. The Gripen pilots went up against F-15C and F-15E pilots in simulated air-to-air combat scenarios. “I thought the training was a huge success, and to work with our sister wing from Sweden was outstanding,” said Capt. Mike Culhane, C-flight commander with Lakenheath’s 493rd Fighter Squadron. “We executed our mission along with the Swedish pilots seamlessly. We were very impressed with the Gripen; it’s a very capable aircraft.” The Swedish visit concluded on Nov. 18. “For most of our pilots, this is the first time flying against F-15s, so the training was superb in attaining that experience,” said Swedish air force Lt. Col. Joergem Marqvardsem, 211 Squadron commander. (Lakenheath report by SSgt. Connor Estes)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
