Without forces of its own, the fledgling 17th Air Force/Air Forces Africa can plan theater security cooperation events but has to request assistance to carry them out, like recently engaging 18 airmen from Ramstein AB, Germany, and two Army Reservists from Tennessee to train Uganda military members in humanitarian airdrop procedures. “Once we have a basic plan in place, we have to request for forces through the Air Staff to find those airmen who will travel to the [African] continent to make it happen,” said Col. Don Kochanski, AFAFRICA’s director of plans and engagements. As for this latest effort to Uganda, the commander of Entebbe Air Base, Col. Kaija Ham, said, “This course has come at a right time, when we need it most.” (17th AF report by Maj. Paula Kurtz)
Collaborative Combat Aircraft designs from Anduril and General Atomics passed their Critical Design Reviews early in November, clearing the way for detailed production efforts to get underway, the Air Force said. How future versions will be upgraded is still under discussion.