As we reported Thursday, airmen were among the lead elements sent to Haiti following a massive Jan. 12 earthquake, including airmen of the 720th Special Tactics Group flying Wednesday aboard two 15th Special Operations Squadron MC-130Hs, both from Hurlburt Field, Fla. The 720th STG are providing airfield assessment, emergency medical care, and weather observations to aid continuing air support, which, in a Pentagon briefing (transcript) Wednesday, Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, US Southern Command boss, said was critical because “a lot of the immediate effort from an international basis” would need to employ the airfield. The Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing has sent C-130s into Haiti, after stopping in Florida to pick up search and rescue and communications teams. The 12th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., has sent a Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle to provide imagery to aid relief efforts. (AFSOC report by SrA. David Salanitri; USSOUTHCOM AFPS report; Beale report by TSgt. Luke Johnson)
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.