The Air Force formally announced Wednesday that it had shifted 21 MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles from Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command at the end of May. And, the service plans to give AFSOC another seven later this month, making a total of 28 for the air commandos’ 3rd Special Operations Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev. The shift last month also gave the 3rd SOS some ACC personnel. AFSOC activated the new squadron in fall 2005.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.