First responders at Edwards AFB, Calif., trained with their civilian counterparts to secure a simulated F-35 crash site in nearby California City, Calif. Dummy 911 calls kickstarted the April 4 Desert Wind exercise, which allowed the groups to hone their coordination and communication, according to a release. California City police officers arrived at the scene of a faked UK F-35 crash first. Joined by the California City, Bakersfield, and Kern County fire departments, they encountered fires, debris, and injured civilians. After tackling the fire and treating the injured, the civilian responders turned the scene over to 412th Test Wing responders and security forces, who cordoned off the area.
The Air Force is moving forward with a new, algorithm-driven system to help U.S. Northern Command better detect airborne threats. NORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which are tasked with protecting the homeland from attack, depend on a slew of radars and other data systems to monitor U.S.…