The California Air National Guard will regain the homeland security mission operated from March ARB, Calif., from the Montana Air Guard, possibly as early as fall, reports Associated Press. The F-16s belonging to Det. 1 of the California ANG’s 144th Fighter Wing “owned” the mission until 2003, when the National Guard shifted the mission to Montana’s 120th FW. As a result of BRAC 2005, the Montana wing is switching to F-15s, so ANG officials believe the unit won’t have time to train in its new fighters and run the March mission.
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…