The Amalgam Virgo exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City tested a radar system that utilizes feeds from traditional radar, Airborne Warning and Control System planes, naval Aegis radar and ground mobile radar to give a clearer picture of the sky. [Don Arias] said current defense capabilities work well at 10,000 feet and above, but not well below that. Cruise missiles typically hug the Earth.

Drones simulating cruise missiles will be launched from Tyndall, head out to sea, circle a ship as if it were launched from there, and head back to land. Air Force F-16s, Navy gunners and Army missile defense units will attempt to find and track the drones. The Coast Guard will attempt to catch the ship serving as the dummy launch site.

Sons and daughters:Army 2nd Lt. Derek Hess, son of Larry and Pamela Hess of Tampa, graduated May 5 from the University of South Florida with a degree in political science. He was also commissioned into the Army at that time and attached to the Signal Corp. He is assigned as a Gold Bar recruiter at USF and will report to Fort Gordon, Ga., in August for the Signal Officer Basic Course. The 1997 Leto High graduate will then be stationed in Germany.