There are complaints galore over the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. As far as Adm. Timothy Keating is concerned the problem with US Northern Command’s efforts was that natural disaster response is not the command’s primary mission. Nonetheless, he told reporters that NORTHCOM “responded well,” but the command has “lessons to learn” and will “study them hard.” As far as past exercises for hurricanes, Keating blamed not having “sufficient fidelity” in simulating a situation in which civil first responders and communications are wiped out. Let’s see if this helps: Exercise planners, please write up an exercise in which ….
General Atomics, the maker of one of the Air Force’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has ambitious plans for its family of semi-autonomous drones beyond the FQ-42, including a flying-wing aircraft capable of carrying out both reconnaissance and strike missions. Meanwhile, the Air Force Research Laboratory announced a new program to…