Lt. Col. Philip Hoover, commander of the 389th Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, on March 16 flew the last F-16 Viper mission out of Mountain Home. The squadron is trading its F-16s—the last five of which leave the base next week—for the F-15E Strike Eagle under BRAC 2005. The 389th FS has flown F-16s since 1991 and began the transition to the F-15E in December. The base also will say goodbye to its F-15C Eagles as it becomes a “core F-15E installation.”
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.