Officials with the Multinational Force-Iraq say a coalition air strike on Monday killed three terrorists in Yusifiyyah, near Baghdad, that were linked to a network engaged in producing vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. An official statement declared, “ The result of this operation will significantly disrupt the VBIED production in the Baghdad region. There was no indication which coalition aircraft conducted the strike, however a daily US Central Command Air Forces release of air component data indicates that USAF F-15E fighters provided close air support to troops in contact with enemy forces near Baghdad. Coalition ground forces, according to MNF-Iraq, tracked the three terrorists to guide the air strike.
General Atomics, the maker of one of the Air Force’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has ambitious plans for its family of semi-autonomous drones beyond the FQ-42, including a flying-wing aircraft capable of carrying out both reconnaissance and strike missions. Meanwhile, the Air Force Research Laboratory announced a new program to…