The Air Force wants to bolster the Afghan military’s air wing with four more A-29 Super Tucanos. Air Force Materiel Command on Oct. 7 posted a “sources sought” notice for the production of four more of the Embraer and Sierra Nevada light air support aircraft for the Afghan Air Force. The AAF already has 20 of the aircraft under contract, with eight currently in operation in Afghanistan. Afghan airmen have increased their operations with the small fleet after reaching initial operational capability in April. As of this summer, the aircraft had not yet employed precision-guided munitions—a capability expected shortly. (See also: The Afghan Air Force’s Manning Shortfall.)
The Air Force is moving forward with a new, algorithm-driven system to help U.S. Northern Command better detect airborne threats. NORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which are tasked with protecting the homeland from attack, depend on a slew of radars and other data systems to monitor U.S.…