The 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M., now has the “required assets available” to begin training Air Force Special Operations airmen on the new CV-22 tiltrotor aircraft. The RAA signifies that the 58th has the requisite number of instructors, aircraft, and maintenance crews to aircrew training. In fact, a Feb. 13 news release states the first class of pilots and flight engineers began on Jan. 30. AFSOC expects to declare initial operational capability with the Osprey in January 2009.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.