A Civil Air Patrol Cessna 206T received an upgraded sensor suite to mimic an MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft for pre-deployment combat training, the Air Force Research Laboratory announced. “The Enhanced Surrogate Predator 3 is a redesign of the first two surrogate Predators, which had a wing-mounted turret,” AFRL program manager J. P. Sena said in a release, April 22. Upgrades include a sensor turret that retracts into the Cessna’s belly to both improve field of view and reduce aerodynamic drag when not in use, as well as a more ergonomic and capable operator’s station. “Troops training for deployment get experience with what they will see overseas,” added Sena. “Our government saves millions by keeping the [RPA] assets in theater,” while CAP is able to use the sensor-equipped Cessnas for disaster relief, homeland security, and search and rescue missions as well as combat exercises such as Green Flag, he said.
Air Force Global Strike Command tested an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in the early hours of Nov. 5, the service announced. The tests, which have been carried out at regular intervals for decades, came as Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted the development of two new nuclear weapons…
