Nine C-17 airlifters from JB Charleston, S.C., air-dropped pallets and paratroopers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in a massive joint-force deployment drill. “The exercise provided more than 500 operational and maintenance training objectives,” said Capt. Rob Cross of Charleston’s 437th Maintenance Squadron in an April 2 release. “The exercise let us practice Total Force integration on a whole new level,” he added. The mass airdrop on March 27, dubbed “Raging Moose,” gave Charleston’s 437th Airlift Wing and Air Force Reserve Command’s associated 315th AW practice with close-formation flight and aerial refueling en-route to an “undisclosed” dropzone.
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.