The Air Force this month selected the small Northern Mariana Island of Tinian as a divert location for aircraft in the Pacific that need to land. The Dec. 7 selection of Tinian International Airport followed an environmental impact statement to determine the best location to both support training exercises and to increase regional humanitarian assistance capabilities, according to a Pacific Air Forces release. Tinian was selected over other locations including Saipan International Airport, Saipan; Rota International Airport, Rota; and Guam International Airport, Guam. Tinian’s airport will now be built up to support cargo, tanker, and other similar aircraft, the release states.
Air Force Global Strike Command tested an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile early May 20, launching the ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.