The Air Force has activated a new unmanned aerial vehicle unit, Det. 4 of the 53rd Test Management Group. The detachment, located at Creech AFB, Nev., comprises some 10 airmen—program managers, flight test analysts, and engineers—whose job is to manage operational test and evaluation of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs. The 53rd TMG resides at Eglin AFB, Fla.
Pentagon officials overseeing homeland counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that even with preliminary moves to bolster U.S. base defenses, the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drones like those that breached the airspace of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 days in December…