About 100 airmen from the 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons and two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters are practicing combat rescues with their French counterparts at Cazaux AB, France through Nov. 18. The units from RAF Lakenheath, England, are flying alongside French EC-725 Caracal helicopters during Exercise Salamander, according to a 48th Fighter Wing release. Lt. Col. Bernard Smith, commander of the 56th RQS, said the US and French forces have simulated a recovery in a combat environment and taken part in night-time water rescue training. He described the exercise as a “resounding success” thus far, according to the release.
The White House announced its United States Space Priorities Framework in a document released concurrently with Vice President Kamala Harris' first National Space Council meeting. Listed among five U.S. priorities is to “defend its national security interests from the growing scope and scale of space and counterspace threats.”