The recent decision not to give executive agency to the Air Force over higher flying unmanned aerial vehicles may actually make it easier for the service to get that status in the future, service chief Gen. Michael Moseley said yesterday afternoon. Moseley told reporters at AFA’s Air & Space Conference that the partnership of the Air Force and Army on Predator-like UAVs probably will yield more aircraft and give the Air Force a big say in the development of a UAV concept of operations. “I’m not unhappy with what’s happened,” Moseley said, adding, “We are … moving in the right direction” in terms of getting a more coherent scheme for joint UAV operations.
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.