Central Command (CENTCOM) says it is kicking off multi-day air readiness drills to show exactly how fast it can disperse and sustain combat power. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) described the drills as a way to enhance dispersal capabilities and improve coordination with regional partners to enable flexible military responses. Yesterday, U.S. forces and Bahrain Defense Forces used a vehicle-mounted counter-UAS system to engage a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft during a training exercise in Bahrain. The drone drills with Bahrain show growing U.S. concerns about unmanned aerial threats in what officials describe as a “persistent” operational environment. A U.S. official told CNN the administration remains willing to negotiate if Tehran understands the terms.