Officials at Dover AFB, Del., one of the Air Force’s major airlift hubs, on June 5 accepted the base’s new $54.8 million, 13,800-foot runway that is designated 14/32 from contractor TolTest Inc., of Maumee, Ohio. The News Journal of Wilmington reported June 6 that the company completed the runway without experiencing any lost-time incidents during the 17-month construction period, which began in January 2008. The new landing strip replaces the base’s decades-old 12,903-foot-long concrete-and-asphalt runway. During the construction period, Dover was able to maintain its vital airlift mission even though it had to rely on only one operational runway, according to The News Journal. The new runway’s opening came in time for the open house and air show that the base is hosting June 20-21.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
