Extra Red Flag week allows for more missions: "In the most significant change in its more than 30-year history, the Red Flag aerial combat exercise held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., will expand from two to three weeks for the exercise that begins in late February and will include a greater emphasis on close-air support missions."
(Via Air Force Times - News.)
MDA Fires Rocket Motor for New Target: "
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) test fired the rocket motor of a new Flexible Target Family (FTF) target vehicle.
The LV-2 target vehicle will be a two-stage launch vehicle that employs C4 rocket motors from retired U.S. Navy Trident missiles in both stages. MDA officials hope to use the FTF later this year for the first time as a target for a missile defense test.
The FTF program is designed to use as much commonality as possible in crafting targets for missile defense tests, eliminating maintenance hungry and out-of-date legacy systems.
The test took place Jan. 22 at China Lake Naval Warfare Center, Calif.
Below is a pic of the test (pardon the writing, please)
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credit: MDA
Also, a graphic of the configuration LV-2
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credit: MDA
"(Via Ares.)
24 F-22s Deployed To Guam and Okinawa: "U.S. officials say the ongoing rotation of forces is to ensure security and stability throughout the Asia-Pacific region"
