A-10s of the 81st Fighter Squadron deployed this week to the Czech Republic from Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for NATO’s close air support exercise Ramstein Rover. “NATO nations come here to train and prepare for the important allied mission in Afghanistan,” said Czech Brig. Gen. Jiri Verner, host representative at exercise headquarters at Namest AB, Czech Republic. During the 10 flying days, Spangdahlem’s A-10s will practice the “full spectrum of day, night, medium- and low-altitude training” in coordination with joint terminal attack controllers from among the participating countries, according to a NATO release. The A-10s, which left for Namest on Sept. 4, and Turkish F-16s are the primary fast-attack assets at this year’s exercise. Personnel and hardware from Belgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United States are taking part in Ramstein Rover, which runs from Sept. 5 to Sept 21. (Spangdahlem release)
GAO Turns Down Anduril’s ABMS Protest
March 3, 2021
The Government Accountability Office recently turned down a protest by California-based Anduril Industries, which challenged how the Air Force is running aspects of its Advanced Battle Management System acquisition. Anduril filed the protest in November to push back on a solicitation for contractors to participate in ABMS that it felt…