A meeting between New Jersey lawmakers and the Air Force on May 21 has resulted in the promise of a full investigation into the fire that burned 17,000 acres and forced thousands from their homes near Warren Grove Gunnery Range. The New Jersey Air National Guard has acknowledged that one of its F-16 fighters started the fire. In a joint statement, Democratic Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez noted that the fire was the latest in a string of incidents on the range dating from a 1999 fire. Lautenberg said, “We need an investigation that yields real results—the community must be assured that there will be specific changes to prevent mishaps in the future.” Menendez wants an assurance that the range training mission “can be reconciled with the safety of New Jersey residents.” Air Combat Command, the gaining command for the 177th Fighter Wing, has placed Maj. Gen. Emmett Titshaw, ANG assistant to the ACC commander, in charge of the investigation.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.