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A U.S. Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady from the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron flies over Beale Air Force Base after being launched by 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airmen participating in EXERCISE DRAGON SHIELD January 14, 2026. EXERCISE DRAGON SHIELD tested the readiness of the 9th AMXS by requiring Airmen to launch aircraft in a simulated contested environment under austere conditions involving the need for Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear at varying levels. Maintenance Airmen will also serve as air marshals for jets during launch and recovery operations, guiding the pilots to take-off and recovery points as well as performing last minute visual inspections and safety checks, communicating to the pilot through hand gestures. The 9th AMXS’s ability to launch and recover aircraft under such conditions ensures that aircraft readiness keeps pace with shifting operational requirements and emerging threats to deliver agile and responsive ISR capabilities at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Frederick Brown)
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2026 14:00 |
| Photo ID: | 9488093 |
| VIRIN: | 260114-F-WX919-1368 |
| Resolution: | 4423x2950 |
| Size: | 3.3 MB |
| Location: | BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 7 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Exercise Dragon Shield [Image 21 of 21], by SSgt Frederick Brown, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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