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.
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan flew an unusual trilateral flight with two U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers escorted by two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s, and two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighters—both countries’ respective variants of the F-16—July 11. That same weekend, the top military officers of the three nations…