An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed yesterday in eastern Afghanistan, according to Air Forces Central. The crash was not due to hostile fire, AFCENT said in a release. A board is being convened to investigate the incident. This is the first Air Force Predator crash that we are aware of since last August when ashort circuit felled an MQ-1 near Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.