Creech Air Force Base in Nevada is now home to USAF’s first unmanned aerial vehicle wing—the reactivated 432nd Wing. The new wing’s first commander, Col. Christopher Chambliss, called the event a “monumental day for the Air Force,” adding that it’s “equally critical to the Air Force’s most important customers, the American warfighters.” He noted that the standup was the result of about four years planning. The wing comprises six operational squadrons and one maintenance squadron and, so far, has six MQ-9 Reapers and 60 MQ-1 Predators.
With key members of Congress wavering on the possibility of a $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, defense experts told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Pentagon is likely drawing up budget backup plans—but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost drones and other programs in…