The first two of 15 former South Korean T-38 trainer aircraft have arrived at Holloman AFB, N.M., for regeneration to operational status and use as aggressor aircraft in F-22 training drills at JB Langley, Va., and Tyndall AFB, Fla. “The addition of these T-38s will dramatically increase the combat capability of our F-22 pilots,” said Lt. Col. Derek Wyler, Langley’s T-38 adversary air program lead. Plus, USAF officials say the T-38s will be affordable to operate in this role. The 15 T-38s returned to the United States from South Korea in November 2009 and have been sitting at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., since. M1 Support Services will overhaul them at Holloman. The first seven rebuilt T-38s will be assigned to Langley; the others are destined for basing at Tyndall. NASA is using a modified, wide-bodied cargo aircraft to bring the T-38s to Holloman, two at a time. All 15 T-38s are slated be at Holloman in February. (Holloman report by SrA. Sondra Escutia)
The Air Force is upgrading some 70 MQ-9 Reapers to a new configuration that will keep the type capable and relevant to the near-peer fight for another 15 years. It awarded General Atomics a $272.3 million contract to enhance the Reaper's weapons, electric power, connectivity, and resistance to jamming, among…