A pair of Air Force Reserve Command F-16s from JB Fort Worth, Texas, collided just after touching down on the runway at Nellis AFB, Nev., at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time Aug. 15, according to a release from Nellis officials. The 301st Fighter Wing pilots were flying a local familiarization sortie ahead of Exercise Red Flag 15-4, which got underway on Monday, a base spokesman told Air Force Magazine. The pilots were taken to a hospital for medical evaluation; the officials are convening an accident investigation board to probe the mishap. The previous iteration of Red Flag wrapped up July 31, with B-2 bombers and some of the “most robust” integration of special operations forces in recent years, 414th Combat Training Squadron ops direction Maj. William Lutmer said in a rel?ease. Red Flag 15-3 also included F-16s conducting a unique combat search and rescue support role. “It is the first time in over two years that we have had qualified sandy pilots and it has made a big difference in the level of personnel recovery training we have been able to accomplish,” he added.
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.