According to a report by the Dayton Daily News, zeal for a top role in the unmanned aircraft arena has prompted the Dayton Development Coalition to try to garner support within Congress and the FAA for new airspace near Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to fly UAVs. “Having compatible airspace, that’s the Holy Grail, that’s the key to breaking into having a significant chunk of the UAV industry,” said Joe Zeis, chief strategist and a DDC vice president. So far, reports the newspaper, the FAA is “cool to the idea.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
