Alert 5

249th Airlift Squadron is now the 144th Airlift Squadron

Posted on August 11, 2018 by alert5

The U.S. Air National Guard has deactivated the 176th Wing’s 249th Airlift Squadron so that the personnel and aircraft can stand up as the 144th Airlift Squadron.

Members of the 176th Wing’s 249th Airlift Squadron changed their unit affiliation to the 144th Airlift Squadron during a discreet patch-changing ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 4. The 144th AS has been a part of the Alaska Air National Guard in some form since its founding in 1952. In 2017, the 144th AS divested eight C-130H Hercules aircraft. The ceremony marks the deactivation of the 249th AS as the 144th AS assumes control of the 249th’s C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, shared with their active duty partners, the 517th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Edward Eagerton/released)

Philippine Navy successfully test-fires Spike ER

Posted on August 11, 2018 by alert5

The Philippine Navy has successfully test-fired the Spike ER missile from a Multi-Purpose Assault Craft (MPAC) off Limay, Bataan on Aug. 9.

Continue reading “Philippine Navy successfully test-fires Spike ER”

John Loh’s op-ed on fighting in contested airspace

Posted on August 10, 2018 by alert5

Former head of Air Combat Command, Gen. John Michael Loh, has written this op-ed on why the U.S. Air Force
should not focus on just operating in contested airspace using stealth aircraft and standoff weapons.

By JOE COLLASO [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons