An unmanned QF-4 full-scale aerial target drone launched an air-to-ground missile earlier this month during a first-of-its-kind test with an FSAT. Airmen of Det. 1 of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M., conducted the test, operating the QF-4 by remote control from a ground station, proving the capability to “test forward firing ordnance without risk to valuable air assets or crew members,” said Lt. Col. Joel Rush, Det. 1 commander. (49th Fighter Wing report by A1C Rachel Kocin)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.

