Dover Air Force Base’s fleet of C-5M Super Galaxies, along with its support airmen and equipment, has ?moved to JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., until August, because of a runway construction project at the Delaware base, according to a 436th Airlift Wing release. The Delaware base’s North-South runway 01-19 has been closed since February 2015 for a $98.3 million overhaul, and current construction on the runway’s intersection with the other runway, 14-32, temporarily cut it from 12,900 feet to 6,000 feet, making it too short for a C-5 with more than minimal weight, cargo, and fuel to take off and land safely, according to the release. JBMDL had ramp and hangar space available, and as an Air Mobility Command base, they “understand our mission and our requirements,” said Lt. Col. Charles Throckmorton, director of operations for the 436th Operations Support Squadron. Lt. Col. Matthew Husemann, commander of the 9th Airlift Squadron, said McGuire is “a great place” to operate out of, but the move does mean that missions will be about a day longer.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.