An RQ-4 Global Hawk burning an alternative fuel blend completed a 32-hour flight test from Edwards AFB, Calif., becoming the first USAF remotely piloted aircraft to run on this new fuel mixture. Initial data indicate that the high-flying Global Hawk should have no significant issues utilizing this blend in actual operations, according to Edwards officials. The RQ-4 Block 20 air vehicle carried a 50-50 blend of traditional JP-8 aviation fuel and 50 percent synthetic paraffinic kerosene during the Nov. 22-23 flight. SPK is derived from materials like natural gas or coal. For this test, one half of the SPK portion came from coal; the other half came from natural gas. The Global Hawk is one of the final USAF platforms that officials are certifying to run on this JP-8-SPK blend. Another evaluation flight is scheduled in the coming weeks. (Edwards report by Kenji Thuloweit)
President Donald Trump wants his signature Golden Dome missile defense program to be up and running before the end of his term and has tapped Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael A. Guetlein to lead the project.