TSgt. Kristoffer M. Solesbee, 32, of Citrus Heights, Calif., and SSgt. Joseph J. Hamski, 28, of Ottumwa, Iowa, died in operations in Afghanistan, announced Defense Department officials. The two airmen were killed on May 26 in the Shorabak district of Kandahar province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. Both airmen were EOD technicians. Solesbee was assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah. Hamski was a member of the 52nd CES at Spangdahlem AB, Germany. (See also KTXL report from Sacramento, Calif., and WHO report from Des Moines, Iowa.)
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control received a $122.6 million installment on an ongoing contract to improve production of the AGM-158 JASSM/LRASM stealth missiles, the Pentagon announced March 14. The weapons have become the key standoff munitions for USAF’s combat air forces.