The California Air National Guard’s 222nd Combat Communications Squadron is pulling up stakes at Costa Mesa, Calif., and putting them down at Beale AFB, Calif., some 400 miles to the north. The Daily Pilot reports that the unit, which has operated out of Costa Mesa for 43 years, will make the move on Sept. 9 and “become part of the 222nd Intelligence Squadron.” Beale already harbors one Air Guard intel squadron, the 234th IS, itself a former combat communications squadron.
General Atomics, the maker of one of the Air Force’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has ambitious plans for its family of semi-autonomous drones beyond the FQ-42, including a flying-wing aircraft capable of carrying out both reconnaissance and strike missions. Meanwhile, the Air Force Research Laboratory announced a new program to…