France Begins ISR Flights Over Syria

By Brian W. Everstine
Two French Rafale fighter jets on Tuesday flew that country’s first surveillance flights over Syria, the first step in France’s push to begin attacks against ISIS. French President Francois Hollande said on Sept. 7 that France would begin military flights...

Spotlight: TSgt. Tamara Acfalle

TSgt. Tamara Acfalle, an instructor at the Airman Leadership School at Patrick AFB, Fla., is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2015. Acfalle served as acting commandant for the Patrick Airman Leadership School and...

Italy’s F-35A Makes European Debut

The first Italian-assembled F-35A Lightning II took off on its maiden flight, making the type’s European debut from Cameri AB, Italy, on Sept. 7, Lockheed Martin announced. “The first flight of AL-1 is a monumental achievement thanks to the hard...

DOD Halts Travel to Adana, Turkey

By Brian W. Everstine
The Defense Department on Sept. 2 halted DOD-funded travel for dependents to Adana, Turkey, along with the Pentagon’s announcement that dependents and American staff at the base and the US Consulate are authorized to leave that country. The Air Force...

F-22s Visit Estonia During Europe Deployment

A pair of F-22 Raptors from the 95th Fighter Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla., and a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, UK, touched down at Amari AB, Estonia, on Sept. 5, marking another leg...

UK’s Second RC-135 Delivered Early

The Royal Air Force received its second RC-135W Rivet Joint—dubbed Airseeker in RAF service—in a hand-over ceremony at RAF Mildenhall, UK, earlier this month. “The delivery of the second Airseeker provides our armed forces with another vital intelligence aircraft that...

Lockheed Martin To Build New Hercules Training Center

In response to growing global demand for C-130J military transport and its LM-100J commercial variant, a new International Training Center will be built at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Ga., facilities, the firm announced Sept. 8. The ITC will be co-located with...