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62d AW makes history with first commercial air refueling of C-17

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In a historic first for U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command, C-17 aircraft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord completed aerial refueling with a commercial KDC-10B tanker on Apr. 10. The mission, executed by Airmen from the 62d Operations Support Squadron and 8th Airlift Squadron, marks a significant milestone in the Air Force’s expanding use of commercial refueling capabilities.


U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Megan Geiger
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South Korean Air Force confirms pilot error in KA-1 weapons jettison incident

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The South Korean Air Force has confirmed that pilot error caused the accidental jettison of weapons from a KA-1 light attack aircraft during a training exercise last Friday. The incident occurred when a pilot mistakenly pressed the emergency jettison button while attempting to adjust a heater.


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Japan’s Ospreys to relocate from Kisarazu to Saga starting July

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Japan’s Defense Ministry announced that its fleet of MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft temporarily stationed at the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Kisarazu base in Chiba Prefecture will begin relocating to the new Saga base on Jul. 9th, with the transfer expected to be completed by mid-August.

V-22 Osprey（JG-1705）left side
陸上自衛隊, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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RNZAF sells retired C-130H fleet to U.S. firefighting company

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The New Zealand Defence Force has finalized the sale of four retired Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft to American aerial firefighting company Coulson Aviation for $9 million. The deal, announced on Apr. 11, marks a new chapter for the venerable aircraft that were officially retired from military service earlier this year.

20231025 NZDF K1055157 003
Corporal Naomi James, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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U.S. Navy and JMSDF hold first Joint Electronic Warfare Exercise under FUJIN agreement

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The U.S. Navy’s expeditionary Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131, operating under Task Force 70, conducted a bilateral electronic warfare exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) on Apr. 3, south of Okinawa, Japan.

PHILIPPINE SEA (April 3, 2025) E/A-18G Growlers from the expeditionary Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 are seen from the cockpit of a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) UP-3D aircraft during the Fujin bilateral training exercise, April 3, 2025. The planning and execution of the exercise came after the JMSDF Commander, Fleet Air Force (CFAF), and U.S. Navy’s Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, signed the Fujin memorandum of understanding to increase bilateral operations between the forces’ electronic attack squadrons in December 2024. (Courtesy photo)

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