Hurricane Katrina strikes the US Gulf Coast, devastating New Orleans and surrounding area. USAF and other services begin massive relief operations, including aeromedical evacuation, command and control, and airlifting supplies and rescue forces.
The Air Force conducted its first successful test of the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, on May 14, snapping a streak of three consecutive failed tests and giving the beleaguered hypersonics program a much needed boost. Off the coast of Southern California, the AGM-183A ARRW separated from the wing…