Air Force chief cites 1,200 red alarms and new point-defense push after Iranian strikes
Gen. Ken Wilsbach warned that U.S. airmen faced 1,200 red-alert alarms and extensive damage during Iran’s attacks, and announced a new point-defense career track.
At the Air and Space Conference, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach recounted chaotic scenes where incoming missiles breached defenses, igniting an aircraft and trapping crew members until a security forces NCO pried the door open. He reported that U.S. airmen logged 1,200 red-alert alarms, carried out 48 airfield repairs and cleared more than 420 reportable explosive ordnance items, while ten service members have been killed in Iranian attacks on bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Individual heroics were highlighted, including an airman named Garrett who continued launching F-15E Strike Eagles during a red alarm, and two young operators, Shanea (27) and Nolan (21), who shot down over ten hostile drones. In response, the Air Force will field a point-defense weapons system combining kinetic and non-kinetic tools and will launch a new career track for point-defense airmen, with Andrew Lewis and Brandon Spears as the inaugural members. The initiative reflects growing concerns over cheap, one-way attack drones and the need for cost-effective base protection worldwide.
Why it matters
It shows how Iran’s drone and missile attacks are reshaping U.S. base defense and prompting new specialized air-defense roles.
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