The Air Force put its high flying Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle to work for the first time in the US for a civil support mission when it aided California firefighting efforts, according to a US Northern Command release. The RQ-4 Global Hawk was not the only Air Force ISR asset; the Air Force also engaged its high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. Both ISR aircraft flew out of Beale AFB, Calif. They were joined by a Navy P-3 flying out of NAS North Island, Calif. Imagery from these aircraft provided firefighters with near-real-time images to aid in tracking the fires and for humanitarian support.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.