A catastrophic electrical failure caused an MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted vehicle to crash in April during a mission over Afghanistan, Air Combat Command officials announced Tuesday. According to the findings of ACC’s accident investigation board, a short circuit most likely caused the failure, which led to the MQ-1 losing contact with its ground control station during the April 20 mission. The aircraft, whose wreckage was recovered the next day, was carrying one Hellfire missile when it went down in eastern Afghanistan. The value of the lost aircraft and its components is approximately $4.6 million, ACC said. (Langley release) (AIB report)
Air Force Chief of Staff nominee Gen. Henneth Wilsbach said he'll give special attention to coordinating with the Navy on buys of new weapons like the Joint Advanced Tactical Missile.
