Seventeenth Air Force, the air component of US Africa Command, earlier this month hosted the first visit by a delegation of Burkina Faso officers to an American military base in Germany. The three-member group from the West African nation spent a week studying security practices at Ramstein Air Base, 17th AF headquarters, as well as Spangdahlem Air Base and the Vogelweh military complex. During the visit, the delegation witnessed demonstrations of entrance security, flightline procedures, arms room protocols, canine training, and overall base security command and control activities. Such exchanges are part of 17th AF’s outreach efforts to build partnerships with African nations. In March, 17th AF sent delegations to Rwanda and Ethiopia for talks on improving those nations’ air domain safety and security. (Includes Ramstein report by TSgt. Alec Lloyd)
The two prototypes for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program have started ground testing, Air Force Chief Staff Gen. David W. Allvin announced May 1, ahead of a planned first flight this summer.