Serbian ground forces shoot down a USAF F-16 over Yugoslavia, the second and last USAF aircraft lost to enemy fire in Allied Force. An MH-60 helicopter crew rescues the pilot, Lt. Col. David L. Goldfein. Goldfein would go on to become the 21st Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.