Maryland Air National Guard crews flying C-130J Hercules airlifters in Southwest Asia have quickly become immersed in wartime operations. Herc crews typically fly tactical approaches in to airfields in Afghanistan and Iraq, meaning they take off and land in as little time as possible. Maj. Julie Petrina, a Maryland ANG C-130J pilot, speaking at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in Washington Monday, explained that crews would start descents while still 20 miles out and would come straight in with approach speeds that would reach 300 knots. There is no spiraling over the bases, she explained, to minimize exposure to ground threats.
The Air Force has selected Collins Aerospace and Shield AI to develop the software Collaborative Combat Aircraft will use to fly missions alongside manned fighters, the service revealed Feb. 12—and drone-maker General Atomics was quick to announce it has already flown its YFQ-42A aircraft with Collins’ system.
