Friday, July 31, 2026 l Vol. 51, Number 31
SERVING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY OF SOLANO COUNTY
EXERCISE PHANTOM SHIELD Page 2
PATRIOT MEDIC 2026 Page 3
TRAVIS
VALIANT SHIELD 2026 Page 4
TAILWIND A product of Daily Republic
LEADING
THE WAY
Airman Annika Schermerhorn/U.S. Air Force file
F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 17th Weapons Squadron taxi for a mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July 7.
AF tests live-fire for Collaborative Combat Aircraft Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Senior Airman Justin Todd/U.S. Air Force file photos
Staff Sgt. Paige Clauss, 19th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of bioenvironmental engineering, inspects chlorine levels at
Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., June 23. Bioenvironmental health personnel conduct routine chlorine testing to verify the effectiveness of water disinfection.
Inside bioenvironmental engineering with the 19th OMRS
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Department of the Air Force conducted live-fire testing of a YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, firing an AIM-120 weapon at a digital target in secluded airspace over the Mojave Desert. This event is part of a deliberate, phased test progression that began with inert carriage evaluations earlier this year. The initial inert weapons captive carry flights focused on collecting in-flight data to verify the aircraft’s handling. Subsequent evaluations validated the data link integration between the aircraft and the weapon system, ensuring operator commands were executed precisely by the platform in a simulated environment. “This live-fire test is an important next step in the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach. “We’re one step closer to delivering capabilities to the warfighter.” A foundational principle of the CCA program is the retention of human oversight. CCA will not autonomously employ weapons. The decision to release any weapon system remains exclusively with a human operator, who maintains command and control of the platform at all times. See CCA, Page 6
Jennifer Healy/U.S. Air Force
Staff Sgt. Paige Clauss tests chlorine levels at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., June 23. The survey helps ensure chlorine levels throughout the water distribution system remain within established safety guidelines.
Airman 1st Class Christopher Schoener, 61st Airlift Squadron loadmaster, undergoes a gas mask fit test at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., June 23. Gas mask fit testing helps ensure personnel can safely use protective equipment when operating in hazardous environments.
A YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft fires an AIM-120 weapon in secluded airspace over the Mojave Desert. The live-fire test of the YFQ-44 aircraft is the latest milestone in the rapid development of safe and effective CCA operations.