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)
A new Air Force organization is searching for counter-drone firms to participate in a dozen or more exercises to help create operating plans by the end of this year for defending the service’s U.S.-based installations from drone attacks.