Eight Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI fighters will participate for the first time in the upcoming Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB, Nev., from Aug. 9 to 25. On July 13, the Su-30s landed at Lajes Field, Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean en route to the mainland US. From the Azores, they were scheduled to fly to Bangor, Maine, before continuing on to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, where they will train prior to their Red Flag participation. The Indian contingent includes nearly 250 personnel, including 32 pilots, and two tankers and a cargo airplane to support the deployment of the Indian fighter aircraft. Previously, Air Force F-15 and F-16 fighters have faced the modern Su-30MKIs at Cope India exercises. (Lajes report by TSgt. Christin Michaud)
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…