Video by American Forces Network Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Airmen from the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here achieved three major milestones in the month of October supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The squadron, which operates the MC-12 Liberty, surpassed 10,000 sorties flown, 50,000 flight hours and supported ground operations that led to the capture or elimination of more than 4,000 targets.

A needed OH-58D Kiowa Warrior was returned to the fight when Corpus Christi Army Depot Commander, Col. Christopher B. Carlile handed the newly repaired KW's log books to 1st Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade Commander, Col. John M. Morgan during a transfer ceremony held during the Luther Jones Professional Aviation Forum at the American Bank Center October 26, 2011. The KW is destined for the 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment,1st Combat Aviation Brigade out of Ft. Riley Kansas.

East Meets West
ArmaLite has become the generic name for all things pertaining to America’s assault rifle, the 5.56x45mm M16 and its military and civilian variants. Under the leadership of CEO Mark Westrom, the rifleman’s rifle company decided to add a handgun line to its considerable long gun inventory a few years ago. Instead of manufacturing it in the US or acquiring an established European product, Mark decided to bring a high quality, but updated and reasonably priced replica of the iconic Swiss SIG P210 to America from Turkey to realize his dream.

ArmaLite and Sarsilmaz

Aimpoint Patrol Rifle Optic (PRO)
Number of Night Vision settings: 4 night vision settings
Weight: 11.6 ounces
Mount: QRP2 mount for M1913 standard
Picatinny rail and spacer for AR15/M4
Battery life: 30,000 hours/3 years on setting 7

Laser Devices’ NEW Class I Infrared Laser Pointers are now available for commercial purchase. Designed with the same cutting-edge technology and quality MIL-SPEC housings as their high powered military devices, these NEW ‘Eye-Safe’ lasers are powered with a Class I, Infrared pointer for use with night vision devices.

DANGER CLOSE
20 October, 2009: A patrol near Asadabad, Afghanistan comes under fire from insurgent forces. What could have been a bad firefight isn’t. Instead, the patrol calls in support, and it comes in the form of Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons. The F-16s drop precisionguided weapons and destroy the enemy positions.

Using Lasers is like cheating, plain and simple. But, you should never fight fair, so take any advantage you can get. If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didnʼt plan your mission properly.

A Spectacular Launch
Tactical Night Vision Company (TNVC) conducted their first Civilian Night Operator’s Class at the Telluric Group facility, Brunswick, Georgia, July 23–24, 2011. The open enrollment class was attended mainly by civilians, with some defense industry members and law enforcement officers.

Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 21 after spending three weeks at sea hosting the initial sea trials of the F-35B Lightning II, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The first F-35B landed on WASP's flight deck Oct. 3, beginning an 18-day test period for the aircraft. During the testing, two F-35B Marine Corps test jets (BF-2 and BF-4) accomplished vertical landings and short take-offs under various conditions.