NORAD dispatched two USAF F-15s to intercept a Cessna flying through the temporary flight restriction zone posted over Crawford, Tex., on Aug. 23. There’s no indication in this NORAD release of the origin of the fighters, but they apparently shot off eight flares before getting the attention of the civilian aircraft. The Cessna then contacted the FAA and got out of the area.
The Air Force is leaning toward a less-sophisticated autonomous aircraft in the second increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the services chief futurist said. He also suggested that the next increment of CCA may be air-launched, a la the "Rapid Dragon" experiments conducted by the service in recent years.