Air Forces Central reported Dec. 4 that an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle had crashed on the runway at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, about 7:30 a.m., Baghdad time. The release said the extent of the damage was unknown and made no mention of collateral damage or injury. The Air Force will conduct an accident investigation.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.