Air Force CV-22 pilots and flight engineers got a taste of sea life recently when they made their first Osprey landings and take-offs from a Navy ship, the USS Bataan. The airmen—five pilots and three flight engineers—from the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., first practiced their shipboard procedures on dry land, reports Jamie Haig. Believe it or not, 8th SOS boss, Lt. Col. Ted Carallo said the real thing was easier than simulator training. The bigger challenge was getting the squadron’s and ship’s schedules to mesh. Carallo said he expects to train other squadron members sometime this fall. Air Force Special Operations Command is still working tactics for the new Osprey fleet and earlier this summer practiced with Navy SEALs.
The Space Force is playing a key role in planning for “Golden Dome,” President Donald Trump’s initiative for comprehensive air and missile defense of the homeland, leaders said this week. But actually building and fielding the ambitious idea will require a major concerted effort across the Pentagon and intelligence community.