An RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft arrived at Andersen AFB, Guam, last week to support the standup of Global Hawk operations there. Airmen with the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., controlled the aircraft during its 18-hour flight from Beale to Andersen. Now, members of the 9th Operations Group’s Detachment 3 at Andersen will use the Global Hawk to conduct procedural evaluations from Guam, including activities like taxi and pattern tests. Det. 3 will assume formal operations once initial test operational test and evaluation of the Global Hawk Block 20 and Block 30 configurations conclude, according to Beale officials. The Global Hawk is expected to be a valuable asset in the Pacific region, with its ability to patrol over vast ocean areas for extended periods with its powerful cameras and radar. (Beale report by 2nd Lt. Nicole White)
In the face of Chinese war plans to disrupt U.S. command-and-control networks in the event of a conflict, the Air Force needs to focus less on its “connect everything” efforts and prepare its combat aviators to fight without a constant connection to higher-ups, according to a new report from AFA’s…
