Nellis Seeks Range Upgrades, More Students: Officials at Nellis AFB, Nev., would like to expand and upgrade the base’s bombing and gunnery ranges in Nevada and California and double the number of students attending Air Combat Command’s Expeditionary Readiness Training Course. Proposals for the Nevada Test and Training Range include installation of new targets for the urban operation complex and for unmanned aerial vehicles. Nellis also wants to upgrade targets at Leach Lake Tactical Range at Ft. Irwin, Calif. The ERT course at Creech AFB, Nev., currently conducts 14 classes a year for approximately 3,500 students; officials want to reduce the number of classes by two but increase the number of students to 6,000. (Check here for the environmental assessments.)
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
