09.09.16

Hoeven, Boozman Review Intelligence, Surveillance Reconnaissance Operations at Florida's Eglin Air Force Base

Senators Co-Chair Senate Air Force Caucus, Advocate for Strong Air Defense

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven and Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), co-chairs of the Senate Air Force Caucus, today reviewed Air Force operations at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Their visit included a meeting with Lieutenant General Brad Webb, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, as well as a series of briefings on Air Force weapons, operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

The one day trip was part of a series of Air Force briefings and site visits organized through the Senate Air Force Caucus and follows a meeting between Senator Hoeven and Air Force Chief of Staff David Goldfein earlier this week.

“Our visit to Eglin Air Force Base demonstrated how different capabilities come together to produce the world’s most powerful Air Force,” Hoeven said. “We reviewed how the intelligence gathered through remotely piloted aircraft like the Global Hawk at Grand Forks Air Force Base and the Reapers flown by the North Dakota Air Guard enable the Air Force’s fighter jets and special operations to conduct key missions around the world.”

On Wednesday, Hoeven met with General Goldfein and discussed the integration of unmanned aircraft, including the Global Hawk and the Reaper, into broader Air Force operations. At Eglin AFB, Hoeven received briefings from the 11th Intelligence Squadron, part of Air Force Special Operations Command, to understand how the ISR information gathered by unmanned aircraft is processed and then used in Air Force operations.

“Grand Forks Air Force Base, along with Grand Sky Technology Park, has developed a tremendous amount of expertise in unmanned aircraft operations. The next step is to link these operations with the broader missions of the Air Force. I look forward to working with General Goldfein and other Air Force leaders to leverage the assets at Grand Forks on behalf of the entire Air Force.”

Hoeven and Boozman also received briefings on Air Force weapons deployed on the F-15, F-16 and F-35 and reviewed the capabilities of Air Force Special Operations Command assets including the CV-22 and AC-130J.

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