The latest iteration of Red Flag-Alaska, the Air Force-sponsored combined, large-scale air combat exercise, kicked off earlier this week at the Joint-Alaska Pacific Range Complex in the eastern portion of the state. RF-A 10-3 runs through June 25, It is expected to be the largest Red Flag-Alaska gathering of the year, with more than 2,500 US and Belgian, Italian, and Japanese personnel and 124 US and allied aircraft taking part from Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force bases. USAF participants include units from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Kadena AB, Japan, Shaw AFB, S.C., and Yokota AB, Japan, plus elements of the Florida and Louisiana Air National Guard. A Marine Corps Harrier squadron from MCAS Yuma, Ariz., is also present. (Eielson report)
Lockheed Martin plans to enter the Advanced Tactical Trainer fray to supply the Air Force with a new jet to bridge between undergraduate flight instruction and fighter training units, but declined to say whether it will offer a T-50A derivative, a different non-developmental airplane, or a clean-sheet design. It's comments…