Readers may remember the aggressive (and successful) fight waged by South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune to save Ellsworth AFB, S.D., from the 2005 BRAC chopping block. The freshman legislator has been checking out potential new missions to add to the base’s B-1B bomber role. According to the Rapid City Journal, Thune spent two days out west last week touring Nellis AFB, Nev., and Edwards AFB, Calif., to see USAF’s new weapons systems. “We saw a lot of technologies that are emerging, … and they will be looking for basing opportunities,” he told the paper. Thune believes that the unrestricted airspace surrounding Ellsworth will be a big plus for future UAV missions or the Airborne Laser program. (That assumes ABL is still around in a few years.)
CCAs and Autonomy Gain Momentum as Focus of Future Force
Sept. 29, 2026
For the past four years, the idea of autonomous drone warfare like Collaborative Combat Aircraft has been discussed as a future concept, rather than near-term reality. But now that promised vision appears imminent, with the Air Force promising at least 1,000 such drones by 2032.