Eglin AFB, Fla., is a candidate to host an Air Force Reserve Command MQ-1 remotely piloted aircraft squadron. If the Air Force leadership ultimately decides to station this unit at Eglin, the base would welcome about 140 Reservists and associated equipment. There would be no beddown of MQ-1 aircraft there, only ground control systems. That’s because these airmen would control Predators in flight that are operating out of distant or overseas locations under a set-up called remote split operations, or RSO, and through use of satellite communications links that make the remote control possible. AFRC officials will begin conducting detailed evaluations at Eglin. They will brief the results to the USAF leadership, who will then select the preferred location for the unit. Announcement of the preferred site is anticipated this summer. (Robins report)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
