Slow Orders for Larger Predator UAV: Tom Cassidy, head of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, told us last week at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium that he is surprised that the Air Force has not entered into long-term, multi-year buys for the larger model Predator B. “The B is a fabulous airplane,” Cassidy said. He did say that GAAS has an option to ramp up to 22 of the B-model UAVs, but he maintained that the Air Force “needs to move quicker.” Word from the Air Force budget brief is that USAF has two B models budgeted for 2006 and 2007 delivery, with a total of 14 on contract. And, USAF officials said that some developmental Bs are deployed to Southwest Asia.
B-1 Bomber Task Force Deploys to Misawa, Japan
Oct. 18, 2025
A quartet of B-1Bs from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas have landed at Misawa AB, Japan, likely for a series of exercises with Japanese, U.S. and Australian forces.