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.
The Air Force has begun depriving new trainees of more sleep and will soon ramp up the stress level in Basic Military Training to better prepare Airmen for the increased strain of combat operations such as Epic Fury.
