Blue Sands 26.1 fortifies integrated air defense and C-UAS capab
A U.S. Air Force 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft takes off during Blue Sands 26.1 within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 11, 2025. This routine, multinational exercise focuses on refining shared command and control and joint targeting procedures, ultimately enabling faster and more precise defensive responses to missile and unmanned aerial system threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman De’Quan Simmons)