Testers at Tyndall AFB, Fla., last week destroyed a QF-4 drone over the Gulf of Mexico “for safety considerations” during its return to the base following a routine operation, announced base officials. The incident happened on July 10. Operators triggered the drone’s self-destruct charge, according to a posting at Tyndall’s Facebook page. The QF-4 was assigned to Tyndall’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The Air Force has used the remotely piloted QF-4s—which are regenerated F-4 fighters—for decades as full-scale aerial targets in air-to-air testing. The service is now transitioning to using QF-16s, converted out-of-service F-16s, in this role. (See also Final F-4 Regenerated for Use as Aerial Target.)
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.