September 2, 2007: The Swiss
Air Force has flown one of its F-18 jet fighters to the United States, so that
new electronic upgrades could be tested. The Swiss needed use of the test
facilities at the White Sands (New Mexico) Missile Range to perform the tests,
and insure that the upgrades work as they should. There is no such are in
Switzerland for firing missiles like this. Moreover, the U.S. can provide
drones (UAVs used for target practices) that accurately represent an enemy jet.
Many foreign nations, that
lack suitable training areas in their own countries, send aircraft and pilots
to the United States (and Canada) where there are plenty of wide-open-spaces
for testing and training.
