Through the first four months of 2011, Air Force C-130s and C-17s have air-dropped more than 25 million pounds of cargo via to supply ground troops in Afghanistan, according to Air Mobility Command officials. That’s around 6.25 million pounds per month. Should that pace continue for the rest of the year, the Air Force would deliver about 75 million pounds this way, shattering the current record of 60.4 million pounds in 2010. (Scott report by MSgt. Scott T. Sturkol) (See also Airpower on the Rise for Southwest Asia air sortie totals for 2010.)
Newly elected Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has indicated he desires warmer relations with Beijing, saying he is even open to military ties with China, a move that would complicate Pacific Air Forces efforts to protect U.S. interests in the first and second island chains. “We have our relationship not…