A QF-4 Phantom from Holloman AFB, N.M., crashed Wednesday southwest of Roswell, N.M., at about 10:30 a.m. local time, according to base officials. The pilot ejected safely and was in good condition, said Col. David Krumm, commander of Holloman’s 49th Wing. The aircraft was assigned to the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Det. 1 at Holloman. The unit operates these airplanes as full-scale targets at White Sands Missile Range. The officials said they would provide additional details as they become available. The QF-4 can be flown with a pilot in the cockpit or by a remote operator controlling the aircraft from a ground station. (Holloman release)
Since President Donald Trump first unveiled his “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative in late January, much of the focus for it has been focused on space—how the Pentagon may deploy dozens, if not hundreds, of sensors and interceptors into orbit to protect the continental U.S. from missile barrages. But the Air…