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)
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.