The Air Force has designated Ogden Air Logistics Center on the grounds of Hill AFB, Utah, as the site of depot maintenance work for MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, the Utah Congressional delegation announced yesterday. “UAVs are the weapon systems of the future and Hill is getting in on the ground floor and will be a leader in UAV depot maintenance,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) in a joint release with Sen. Bob Bennett (R), Rep. Rob Bishop (R), and Rep. Jim Matheson (D). According to them, Ogden will be responsible for the disassembly and reassembly of MQ-1s and MQ-9s for depot maintenance, including inspecting and repairing the components that encompass these airframes. It will also perform depot work on the Predator’s ground data terminal, primary satellite link, ground control station, and multi-spectral targeting system. And, it will be responsible for the Reaper’s command, control, and communications element, landing gear, and structural elements that require bonding repair technology. This same Utah delegation sent a letter to the Air Force in February 2008 calling for Hill to be selected as a UAV depot hub.
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…
