Several B-1B bombers from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., along with 150 airmen, spent nearly two weeks leading operations at Red Flag 14-3 over the Nellis AFB, Nev., ranges. The 28th BW is the lead wing for the large force exercise, which wraps up Friday. The exercise featured more than 2,300 personnel, 116 aircraft from 20 units, and two coalition partners flying maneuvers over the Nellis ranges. The 28th BW airmen worked to integrate squadrons across USAF and participating allies, said Col. Kevin Kennedy, the 28th BW and Air Expeditionary Wing commander for the exercise. Other participating aircraft include B-52s, F-22s, F-15Es, F-16s, KC-135s, C-130s, E-3 AWACS, CH-47s, and HH-60 Pave Hawks. Col. John Schaefer, 612th Air and Space Operations Center commander, said the exercise features between 500 and 1,000 daily sorties, but only around 60 are aerial sorties, with the rest virtual or constructed with help from the AOC. Blending cyber, space, and air operations, AOC airmen are working to “maximize the overall training environment,” he added.
The Air Force is now expecting delivery of the first VC-25B presidential transport by mid-2028, months ahead of its last official projection, a service spokesperson said this week. USAF also announced it is buying two used Boeing 747-8 jetliners for training and spare parts to be delivered in 2026, calling the $400 million deal part of its “acceleration efforts” for the oft-delayed presidential airlift program.
