The Air Force won’t stop building “basic” MQ-1 Predators for a while, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley said. Moseley told reporters at AFA’s Air & Space Conference Monday that USAF will buy MQ-1s and their more powerful cousins, the MQ-9 Reapers, simultaneously. The basic Predators are needed to “flesh out” unmanned aircraft squadrons—especially Air Guard units—that have been waiting while units in US Central Command get priority. The aircraft are needed both to provide capability and get a larger training capability rolling.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
