On Friday, in addition to several aircraft basing announcements (see above), USAF issued a candidate list to host MQ-1 and MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft ground control stations: Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Langley AFB, Va.; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; and Whiteman AFB, Mo. Communities now have the opportunity to participate in the environmental impact analysis process, moving toward a final basing announcement in June. There was no indication whether the sites would be operated wholly or in part by active duty or reserve components. (Ground control station release)
For the Air Force and Space Force, an influx of additional resources could be an opportunity to accelerate a massive modernization portfolio and ramp up aircraft and satellite production, defense analysts and former officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
