Eight Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI fighters will participate for the first time in the upcoming Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB, Nev., from Aug. 9 to 25. On July 13, the Su-30s landed at Lajes Field, Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean en route to the mainland US. From the Azores, they were scheduled to fly to Bangor, Maine, before continuing on to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, where they will train prior to their Red Flag participation. The Indian contingent includes nearly 250 personnel, including 32 pilots, and two tankers and a cargo airplane to support the deployment of the Indian fighter aircraft. Previously, Air Force F-15 and F-16 fighters have faced the modern Su-30MKIs at Cope India exercises. (Lajes report by TSgt. Christin Michaud)
The Space Force awarded three contracts for rocket launches worth up to a combined $13.68 billion on April 4—and the usual players SpaceX and United Launch Alliance have got some competition in the form of newcomer Blue Origin.