The air and ground crews of 48th Fighter Wing at RAF, Lakenheath, England, are ready to employ the Air Force’s latest munition—the GBU-39 or Small Diameter Bomb. Munitions maintainers getting schooled in the new weapon have marveled at how easy it is to work with. The aircrews began training with simulated bombs last month and will continue to use the dummy bombs until they deploy to Southwest Asia later this year. Lt. Col. Will Reese, 494th Fighter Squadron commander, says, “The folks that designed [the SDB] and its interface with the F-15E certainly did their homework.”
China thinks it will be able to invade Taiwan by 2027 and has developed a technology edge in many key areas—but it is artificial intelligence that may be the decisive factor should conflict erupt, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said.