The Air Force just designated the Air National Guard’s 163rd Air Refueling Wing at March ARB, Calif., as the lucky winner of a new Predator unit. Since many ANG units that will lose their aircraft by virtue of BRAC are eager to grab hold of a Predator mission, we asked USAF just how many new units the service is proposing to establish. The answer from ANG spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Odom is that more Air Guard units will get Predator missions, but the number (and, certainly, which ones) is still under wraps. There are a “number of factors” involved in determining where the Predators will go, he explained, adding that the California ANG announcement “was a real important step.” Odom continued, “This is a total force deal, and it’s going to get done.”
Details Murky as ARRW Falls Short in Second Test
March 24, 2023
The second all-up flight of the AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile apparently fell short of expectations, but the AIr Force isn't saying how, reporting only that the test met "several of the objectives" of the test. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control recently said he company is "ready to go" to…