The Air Force and Missile Defense Agency last month successfully completed the trial period of the upgraded early warning radar at Thule AB, Greenland, thereby clearing the system for operations. In addition to its roles in tracking space objects and warning of ballistic missile launches, the Thule radar will now be an integral component of the ballistic missile defense system that is designed to protect the US and its friends and allies from missile attack. The radar upgrade took two years to implement. The modifications were primarily related to data-processing hardware and software and included no external hardware changes to the radar. (Thule photo caption by SrA. Cheryl Lui)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
