An Air Force Vision for UAVs: The Air Force has released a new 34-page document intended to guide the development and integration of its unmanned aerial vehicle fleet for the next quarter century. Among its many recommendations is the need to avoid “stovepiping” of the huge volume of data “collected and downloaded simultaneously” to ensure it gets to the warfighter. The Air Force also believes that DOD needs new procedures to request and receive UAV support and offers one option—“mimic requests for close air support,” making use of a ground unit’s battlefield airmen. Other recommendations include developing common terminology, funding science and technology efforts, and integrating UAVs with manned and space platforms.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
